Exam 2 Chapter 5 Flashcards
Biological membranes consist of ___ and ___ in a thin film
lipids, proteins
What are the two major types of lipids in cell membranes?
Phospholipids and sterols (in animal cell membranes, cholesterol)
Does the proportion of lipids and proteins vary or stay the same across the cell and across different cells?
Varies across the cell and across different cells
What are four of the main polar groups attached to the phosphate group in phospholipids?
Either an alcohol or an amino acid
- Phosphatidyl choline
- Phosphatidyl serine
- Phosphatidyl ethanolamine
- Phosphatidyl inositol
Describe the structure of phospholipids
Phosphate group linked to a polar amino acid or alcohol and a glycerol on the other side; the glycerol is attached to two fatty acid nonpolar tails that are hydrophobic
How are the hydrophobic tails of phospholipids attracted to other nonpolar molecules?
Via Van Der Waals forces
Phospholipids are _____ molecules
Amphiphilic
What structure is spontaneously formed by the phospholipid molecules?
A bilayer
Describe the characteristics of a fluid and frozen bilayer
Fluid:
- Individual molecules are free to flex, rotate, and exchange places
Frozen:
- Molecules remain fixed in place
Which end faces the aqueous solution in a bilayer?
The polar phosphate heads
What happens when a phospholipid bilayer sheet is shaken in water?
Vesicles are spontaneously formed
Phospholipids are ____ molecules
amphiphilic (both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties)
True or false: membrane sterols have dual solubility properties
True; sterols have an outward facing polar OH group that extends into the aqueous surface, and the four carbon rings and nonpolar chain that face inwards are nonpolar
What sterols are found in plants?
Phytosterols
True or false: the similarity of membrane structure in eukaryotes and prokaryotes tells us that basic membrane structure evolved during the earliest stages of life on earth
True
What role does cholesterol play in animal cell membranes?
Helps in membrane fluidity
True or false: plants produce cholesterol
False
True or false: membrane proteins have hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, so also display amphiphilic properties
True
Describe the fluid mosaic model
The membrane consists of a fluid phospholipid bilayer in which proteins are embedded and float freely. The molecules are fluid in that they freely exchange places with one another within a sheet. “Mosaic” refers to the fact that membrane proteins float freely in the membrane/lipid bilayer.
How are the hydrophobic sections of membrane proteins formed?
Segments of polypeptide chains are enriched in amino acids with nonpolar R groups. These segments are often coiled into alpha helices with loops of hydrophilic amino acids that face the aqueous exteriors.
How do secondary structures contribute to membrane proteins?
Alpha helices may form a hydrophobic channel with a hydrophilic loop through the center. Beta sheets may ‘weave’ together.
Where are integral proteins found?
Embedded in phospholipid bilayer
Where are peripheral proteins found?
Held to membrane surfaces by noncovalent bonds
Describe structure and function of bacteriorhodopsin
Bacteriorhodopsin absorbs light for energy in photosynthetic archeans.
Where are glycolipids found?
In the part of the membrane facing outside the cell.
Where are glycoproteins found?
Carbohydrate groups are attached to the part of proteins facing the exterior of the cell, forming glycoproteins
What role do glycoproteins and glycolipids play in animals?
Glycolipids and glycoproteins form a glycocalyx which protects against chemical and mechanical damage.
How are peripheral proteins attached?
Attached to integral membrane proteins or membrane lipids mainly on the cytoplasmic side
What is the purpose of membrane proteins?
Transport: form channels that allow polar molecules and ions to pass through the membrane
Recognition: In plasma membrane, allows for recognition of foreign bodies
Receptors: Recognize and bind molecules from other cells that act as chemical signals, such as hormones
Cell adhesion: bind cells together by recognizing and binding receptors or chemical groups on other cells
What role does the unsaturated fatty acid chain play in membranes?
Keeps membrane fluid at low temperatures
What role does cholesterol play in membranes at low and high temperatures?
Low temps: intercalates between fatty acid chains to prevent stiffening
High temps: stabilizes membrane and reduces fluidity
How do eukaryotes adapt to colder temperatures?
They change their membrane lipids to prevent freezing
- Unsaturated fatty acid and cholesterol proportion both increase in colder temperatures
Describe Frye and Edidin’s experiment
The two scientists grew human and mouse cells in tissue culture. They added antibodies that were labeled red for humans and green for mice (fluorescently labeled). The researchers then fused the cell, and within 40 minutes, membrane proteins were completely intermixed, proving the fluid nature of the membrane.
True or false: biological membranes are selectively permeable
True
Which molecules are most easily able to move through the membrane?
Hydrophobic (nonpolar) molecules
Which molecules have more difficulty moving through the membrane?
Hydrophilic (polar) molecules (charged atoms and molecules are completely blocked by the hydrophobic core)
Differentiate between the two types of transport
Passive transport uses energy from the concentration gradient; active transport either directly or indirectly uses energy from ATP
What are the types of passive transport?
Simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis
What are the types of active transport?
Primary (uses energy from ATP) and secondary (indirectly uses energy from ATP)
Describe simple diffusion
Simple diffusion involves diffusion through the lipid part of a biological membrane; it only depends on the size of the molecule and the solubility of the lipids. In simple diffusion, only the concentration gradient drives the movement of molecules.
What types of molecules are transported via simple diffusion?
Nonpolar inorganic cases (O2, N2, CO2) and organic molecules
What is the difference between simple and facilitated diffusion?
Simple diffusion does not use transport proteins, but facilitated diffusion does; also, facilitated diffusion involves transportation of polar and charged molecules
Describe facilitated diffusion
Transport of charged and polar molecules down a concentration gradient with the help of transport proteins in the bilayer
What types of proteins can be found in facilitated diffusion?
Channel proteins, aquaporins, ion channels, and gated channels
What are channel proteins?
Channel proteins are formed by integral membrane proteins that form hydrophilic (polar) channels, which allow ions and water to pass
What are aquaporins?
Aquaporins are a water channel. It transports water, and it does so via multiple H-bonding sides on the channel in this protein.
What are ion channels?
Ion channels facilitate the transport of ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, or Cl-. Most ion channels are gated, meaning they switch between open, closed, or intermediate in response to voltage channels.
Describe gated channels
Gated channels are a type of transport protein involved in facilitated diffusion. They help transport ions.
What is the K+ voltage-gated channel?
With normal voltage across the membrane, the activation gate of K+ is closed and K cannot move across the membrane. If a voltage change occurs, K+ opens and K+ moves down the concentration gradient from cytoplasm to outside the cell.
What are carrier proteins?
Involved in facilitated diffusion; transport ions and other solutes across the plasma membrane. They do this by physically binding a molecule on one side, undergoing a conformational change, and releasing the molecule on the other side.
T or F: Carrier proteins are specific to its own molecule, and it is passive
T