Membranes Flashcards
Prokaryote
Cells without a nucleus
Eukaryote
Cells with a nucleus
Compositions of the cell membrane
- 40% Lipid
- 60% Protein
- <1% Sugar moieties
Phospholipids with a glycerol backbone are called…
Glycerol phosphatides
Give two examples of glycerol phosphatides
- Lecithine
- Cephaline
What is shown?
Glycerol phosphatide: Lecithine
Choline
Phosphate
Polar head group
Glycerol backbone
Fatty acid chains
A glycerol phosphatide, with a cholamine molecule linked to it
Cephaline
Glycerol phosphatide without choline or cholamine
Phosphatidic acid
Sphingosine
Sphingolipid:
- 18-carbon amino alcohol
- Unsaturated hydrocarbon chain
Ceramide
Sphingolipid:
- Sphingosine + fatty acid
Sphingomyelin structure
Ceramide + Phosphate + Choline
Unsaturated fatty acid
- 1-3 double bonds along the hydrocarbon chain
- Causes a kink in the chain shape
- Results in looser packing + lower melting point
The function of cholesterol in the cell membrane
Helps stabilise the membrane
Give the movement of lipids in the membrane
- Rotation
- Lateral diffusion
- Transversial diffusion
- Flippase protein + energy needed
What are the two classes of membrane protein?
- Integral protein
- Peripheral protein
Integral proteins
- Transmembrane proteins
- Hydrophobic regions
- Hydrophilic ends
- Generally serve as ion channels
Peripheral proteins
- Loosely bound to surface of the membrane
- Static function
- Receptor function
Cell surface receptor
- Span cell membrane
- Detect chemical signals outside the cell
- Transmit these detections inside
Carbohydrates of the membrane are usually…
- Branched oligosaccharides
- <15 sugar units
Carbohydrates attached to lipids in the membrane
Glycolipids