chapter 5- plasma membranes (and transport) Flashcards
what is the phospholipid bilayer made out of
phospholipids
roles of membranes
idea of barrier between cell contents and environment
regulates which substances enter and leave the cell
site of chemical reactions
cell communication/cell signalling
binding of signalling molecules/hormones
allows the diffusion of lipid-soluble substances across the membrane.
It also prevents the entry and exit of polar substances.
where are the phospholipids produced
in the smooth endoplasmic reticulum
what are the parts of the phospholipid
hydrophilic phosphate head (polar)
hydrophobic fatty acid tails
(non polar)
what type of interactions hold the bilayer together
weak hydrophobic interactions
how is the fluidity beneficial to cell membrane function
spontaneous breaking and reforming of membranes
how thick is the bilayer
7.5 nm thick
What is the impact of shorter fatty acid tails
increases fluidity, lots of double bonds= more sussepiltbe to KE
explain the fluid mosaic model(3)
phospholipids create a viscous layer but are free to move.
proteins are embedded randomly in the bilayer the mosaic effect
they vary in shape and size and are globular so have a tertiary structure.
what are the 2 integral or intrinsic proteins
channel protein and carrier proteins
what is the different between intrinsic and extrinsic proteins
intrinsic proteins consist all the way through the phospholipid bilayer and extrinsic proteins do not
what is an example of an extrinsic protein in the bilayer
peripheral protein eg can act as receptors, can be enzymes
glycoprotein eg as a recognition site or for adhesion
what is a peripheral/extrinsic protein
a protein that is temporarily attached to the bilayer by non covalent interactions and associate with one surface of the membrane. they can be present in either layer
what is an integral protein
proteins that are permanently attached to the bilayer and span across it.
what are the 2 structures that transmembrane (integral) proteins could adopt
single helices/ helical bundles
or
beta barrels forming channels
what is the role of cholesterol in a membrane
it regulates (presence=reduces)the fluidity of membranes
how is cholesterol situated in the membrane
they are positioned between the phospholipids
the hydrophilic end interacts with the heads
the hydrophobic end interacts with the tails
the phopholippids are pulled
what effect does cholesterol have on the fluidity of the bilayer
more cholesterol
more cholesterol makes it less fluid as the phospholipids become more tightly packed/they are pulled together and so the permeability is also reduced so that very small water soluble molecules cannot freely cross. it immobilises the outer surface of the membrane
in an experiment trying to find the effect of cholesterol on membrane fluidity, what needs to be controlled, and why
temperature
cholesterol increases fluidity at lower temperatures
cholesterol decreases fluidity at higher temperatures (body temp)
describe a molecule of cholesterol
it is a lipid
it is an amphipathic molecule. the OH group is polar and hydrophillic and so it aligns towards the phosphate heads.
the other bit is hydrophobic and so is situated within the fatty acid tails
why else is cholesterol useful in the bilayer
it separates…..
it helps to secure……
it separates phospholipid tails to prevent crystallisation of the membrane
helps to secure peripheral proteins by forming high density lipid rafts to anchor the protein
definition of diffusion
net and passive movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.
it will continue until all the particles are evenly dispersed (equilibrium)
definition of bulk transport and an example
active movement of large molecules eg vesicle transport as too big to travel through a transport protein
definition of facilitated diffusion
passive movement of molecules across a cell membrane down a concentration gradient via the aid of a membrane protein.