Membrane Structure Flashcards
Membranes are composed of
lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins
Membrane function
physical barriers that define boundaries
Membranes spontaneously form
sealed structures
Proteins that span the membrane control ________
the movement of molecules between the inside and outside of the structure (cell or organelle).
The plasma membrane defines _____
the boundary of the cell and membrane proteins sense the extracellular environment
Organelles are _____
membrane-bound compartments that have specific structures and functions.
Each membrane type has a _____
unique complement of proteins and lipids.
Lipids, which form the primary structure of the membrane, ____
often have carbohydrates attached on the extracellular surface.
Proteins embedded in the membrane also often have _____
carbohydrates attached to the extracellular domains of the protein.
primary component of membrane
lipids
All of organelles are delimited by ______.
membranes:
nucleus, mitochondria, ER, vacuole, Golgi, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and many vesicles.
Internal membrane surface area is ________ than that of plasma membrane.
10 fold greater
All cell membranes are _________.
lipid bilayers (~ 5 nm in thickness) with proteins embedded in or associated with the bilayer
The cytoskeleton (for moving vesicles and organelles and for maintaining shape) occupies over ______ area than the internal membranes.
10 fold more
The enormous surface area of the cytoskeleton allows it to function
as a scaffold on which cellular reactions can take place.
Most ______ substances cannot pass through the bilayer unless a protein enables the passage of the substance.
water soluble
Proteins spanning the lipid bilayer mediate ________
many of the functions of the membrane (~30% of the all proteins encoded in the genome are membrane or membrane-associated proteins).
Lipid bilayers are _____
dynamic and fluid structures; membrane fluidity depends on composition and temperature.
The typical lipid molecule exchanges places with its neighbors in a bilayer ___ times/second and diffuses several mm/second at __°C within a lipid bilayer leaflet.
107
37
Phospholipids do not spontaneously flip-flop in membranes. For specific functions, an _________ catalyzes flip-flop.
an ATP driven Flippase
Carbohydrates on membrane proteins and lipids are exceedingly important for _________.
for development, immunological responses, binding of viruses and toxins, and for proper protein folding.
Carbohydrates are on the _______ side of the plasma membrane
extracellular
If you add energy to a solution of cells or organelles by physically shaking the solution, it is possible to break membranes, but they will ________.
spontaneously reseal
The resealed vesicle is the most energetically favorable state since it avoids ________.
the exposure of the hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails to water