Lecture 11 Plasma Membrane Flashcards
Why are membranes important?
They allow cells to compartmentalize and control their chemical environment making it conducive for life
How do membranes “work”? (based on what principle/s)
Cellular chemistry/biochemistry occurs in water, so by making membranes primarily out of lipids it separates aqueous environments as it is energetically unfavorable for water soluble/fat insoluble molecules to cross lipid membranes
What is an amphipathic molecule?
A molecule that is both water and lipid soluble. Membrane lipids are typically amphipathic with both hydrocarbon fatty acids, which are lipid soluble, and one or more charged groups, which are water soluble.
What does hydrophobic mean?
Same as lipophilic. Hates water, loves lipids.
What does hydrophilic mean?
Same as lipophobic. Water loving, lipid hating.
An amphipathic molecule has:
1) Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic region
2) Lipophobic/Lipophilic region
3) Hydrophobic/Lipophobic region
4) Hydrophilic/Lipophilic region
Glycolipids are mainly found in the extracellular face of cell/plasma membranes: T or F?
True
Water is a polar molecule so why can it cross biological membranes?
Because it is very small
Can you predict what can and cannot cross a cell membrane?
Only relatively small, hydrophobic molecules (ethanol) plus the polar, universal solvent water: certainly nothing charged (ions) or larger polar molecules (glucose).
How do you overcome membrane impermeability?
There are 2 mechanisms; one is utilizing transport proteins while the other involves fusing with membranous vesicles (endocytosis for exporting and endocytosis for importing).
All cells are surrounded by a _______ _______ with ________ __________
Plasma membrane, selective permeability
The selective permeability of a membrane allows a regulated _______ where the chemistry necessary for life can occur.
environment
All ____ ______ are bounded by membranes: compartmentalization.
intracellular organelles
Our cellular chemistry/biochemistry occurs in ______ phase/solution.
aqueous
Fats are typically _______ formed from glycerol with 2 or 3* fatty acids (hydrocarbon “tails”).
Triglycerides
These are principally for fuel storage.
Triglycerides
Membrane lipids typically contain a hydrophilic group in the ____ position*
third
Different hydrophilic groups in the membrane lipids confer different properties to the membrane. List some examples.
Phosphatidylcholine (a phospholipid), a modified sugar (glycolipid), and many variations.
The hydrophilic group substitution in the membrane lipids makes these lipids _____ with a hydrophobic part that will avoid a water and a hydrophillic part that will interact with water.
amphipathic
Amphipathic membrane lipids will naturally form a bilayer with hydrophilic parts, these lipids arranged externally to interact with water while the hydrophobic parts self-associate to form the true barrier away from water; this is _______ favorable.
energetically
The membrane presents a barrier to water-soluble ____ and most molecules bigger than ~7.5 to 10nm diameter.
ions
________ is a major membrane component which inserts in between the hydrocarbon “tails” stabilizing and affecting membrane permeability.
cholesterol