Membrane Structure and Function Flashcards
1
Q
What affects membrane fluidity?
How cholesterol affects fluidity?
A
- Temperature, FA composition, chain length, amount of saturation, cholesterol
- Makes membrane more rigid. ↓temp = ↓cholesterol, so more fluidity, and ↑temp = ↑cholesterol so less fluidity
2
Q
How apoptosis works?
A
It alters the distribution of phospholipids. Phosphatidyl-serine is moved to outer surface to signal phagocytes to engulf cell; apoptosis
3
Q
Membrane protein types
A
Integral - has 2/3 regions and it spans the bilayer
Peripheral - present on inner/outer surface and can be bound to integral proteins, or anchored to surface lipids
4
Q
Function of membranes?
A
- Transport (active/passive)
- Intracellular compartmentalisation - organelles
- Cell signalling
