Chapter 6,7,11 Flashcards
(94 cards)
what are common features found in all cells?
cell membrane, cytoplasm, chromosomes, ribosomes, cytoskeleton
what does the cell membrane do?
separates and protects interior from exterior environment, selectively permeable
what is the fluid in the cytoplasm called?
cytosol
what are cytoskeletons?
dynamic network of fibrous proteins providing structural support in the cell
what properties would limit cells from being smaller?
cells have to be large enough to fit organelles and other important contents
what properties would impose upper limits on cell size?
surface area, cells want to have a high surface area: volume ratio
why does surface are impose an upper limit on size?
cell is limited by amount of surface area needed to obtain nutrients from environment and dispose of wastes
what is the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane?
cellular membranes are fluid mosaics of phospholipids, proteins, cholesterols, and other components making membrane diverse
how are phospholipids amphiphatic?
they have a polar and hydrophilic head region with a glycerol,phosphate group and a polar group and a nonpolar tail region with fatty acid tails
what do phospholipids do in an aqueous solution?
spontaneously arrange themselves into enclosed bilayers which is energetically favourable
how do phospholipids move within the bilayer?
drifting laterally within membrane or by flip flopping transversely across membrane (rare)
what forces allow phospholipids to associate with one another?
Van der Waals forces between their fatty acid tails
why is the cell membrane fluid?
van der waal forces interactions are weak, membrane lipids are able to move
what two factors determine strength of interactions between fatty acid tails?
length and shape of the tails
how do kinks in fatty acid tails keep cell membrane more fluid?
more space to move, van der waals forces are also weaker
what properties do the membranes have?
membranes never have an open end or area due to cohesion, membranes spontaneously reseal, membranes can fuse with other membranes
what is cholesterol?
wedged between phospholipids in animal cell membranes, increases or decreases membrane fluidity depending on temperature
how does cholesterol act in room temp?
cholesterol restrains movement of phospholipids, reduces membrane fluidity
how does cholesterol act in colder temps?
cholesterol prevents phospholipids from packing tightly, increases membrane fluidity
is cholesterol amphiphatic?
yes, has hydrophilic head group with rigid planar group of rings and a hydrophobic hydrocarbon tail
what are transporter proteins?
channels or carriers, move ions and hydrophilic molecules across membrane
what are receptor proteins?
allows cell to receive signals from environment, does not let anything in, only transports signals
what are anchors?
anchor proteins attach to other proteins that help maintain cell structure and shape
what kinds of proteins are found in membrane?
transporter, receptor, enzymes, anchor proteins