Membranes and Transport Flashcards
What is the physiological role of a membrane?
- A membrane serves as the protective barrier of the cells AND organelles.
- Gives cell a shape
- Separates the intra from extracellular
- Semipermeable to diff metabolites
- Helps with cell recognition
- Anchoring sites
- Binding sites for hormones and enzymes
- Maintain electrochemical gradient
What is the cell membrane made up of?
The cell membrane is made up of 1) lipids, 2) proteins and 3) carbs arranged in a asymmetric bilayer
The cell membrane is primarily made up of _______________
Phospholipids
What is the structure of a phospholipid?
Phospholipids are amphipathic: they have a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head.
How is the bilayer arranged?
Asymmetrically. Both leaflets of the bilayer are different from one another.
The membrane is composed of lipids, proteins and carbs. How are lipids and proteins incorporated into the lipid bilayer?
Lipids and proteins are attached, embedded or anchored to the lipid bilayer. The lipid bilayer serves as the foundation.
How are carbs incorporated into the membrane?
Carbs are COVALENTLY attached to some membrane lipids or proteins.
What are the three different types of membrane lipids?
- Phospholipids
- Glycolipids
- Cholesterol
What are the two types of phosopholipids?
There are two types of PL, based on their backbones.
- Glycerolphospholipids: have a glycerol backbone
- Sphingolipids: have a sphinogosine backbone.
Structure of glycerolphospholipids
[Glycerol backbone] with [2 fatty acids] and a [phosphate group with a headgroup attached]
Types of glycerolphospholipids
- Phosphotidyl serine
- Phosphotidyl choline
- Phosphotidyl inosital
Structure of a sphingolipid
A sphingolipid has a [sphingosine backbone] with a:
[long chain FA] and a [phosphorylcholine]
What is the most common sphingolipid?
Sphingomyelin- found in the outer leaflet
Sphingomyelinase
Sphingomyelinase has a phosphoryl choline ceremide
What is a glycolipid?
A glycolipid is one of the three most common types of lipids. It has a [sphingosine backbone] with [carbohydrate (oligosaccharide) residues].
Where are glycolipids found?
Glycolipids are found in the outer leaflet.
Structure of cholesterol
Cholesterol is a steroid nucleus with [hydrocarbon side chain] and a hydroxyl (-OH) group.
How does cholesterol interact with the membrane
The [hydrocarbon side chain] of cholesterol interacts with the hydrophobic tails of the membrane. Thus, cholesterol is embedded in the membrane in between phospholipids.
Lipid rafts
Cholesterol is often present in patches called lipid rafts. These lipid rafts are thought to be important for cell signaling.
______________ is a steroid.
Cholesterol is a steroid. Thus, it has a steroid nucleus.
What does it mean that the membrane is arranged in a asymmetric bilayer?
This means that the membrane has 2 leaflets: both are different from one another.
The membrane has binding sites for ____________.
Hormones and enzymes
Where is sphingomyelin found?
Outer leaflet of the membrane bilayer.
Where is phosphotidylcholine found on the membrane?
Phosphotidylcholine is a PL. It is found on the outer leaflet.
Where is phosphotidylserine normally found on the membrane?
Inner leaflet*
When is ____________ a marker for apoptosis?
Phosphotidylserine (PS) is a marker for apoptosis when it is found on the outside leaflet. It serves as a tag.
When PS is found on the outside leaflet, what happens?
When PS is found on the outside leaflet, it is a marker for apoptosis. Phagocytes will recognize and remove them.
Bob has Niemann-Pick Dz. What enzyme is he deficient of?
Acid-sphingomyelinase (A-SMase).
What does A-SMase do?
A-SMase breaks down sphingomyelin.
What is the mechanism of Niemann-Pick Dz?
Niemann-Pick Dz occurs when there is a deficiency of Acid-Sphingomyelinase (A-SMase). A-SMase breaks down sphingomyelin. Sphingomyelin will accumulate in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and CNS.
N-P Dz leads to what?
In N-P Dz, sphingomyelin is accumulating because we do not have A-SMase to break it down. Thus, we will get enlargement of the spleen, liver and also neurological damage.
How can we tell if someone has N-P Dz?
The hallmark is a cherry red spot in the eye.
What are the types of membrane proteins and how are they classified?
- Integral membrane proteins
- Peripheral proteins
- Lipid-anchored proteins
Integral membrane proteins
Integrated in the membrane. Integral membrane proteins are stabilized by the hydrophobic interactions of the lipids.
Polytopic transmembrane proteins
Polytopic transmembrane proteins are integral membrane proteins that span the entire membrane. They weave in and out of the membrane several times and interact with BOTH the intracellular and extracellular portion of the cell.
_____________________ area examples of polytopic transmembrane proteins
Ion channels, transporters and enzymes that are responsible for transporting molecules across the membrane and transmit signals from [extracellular]–> [intracellular]
_____________________ are examples of polytopic transmembrane proteins
Ion channels, transporters and enzymes that are responsible for transporting molecules across the membrane and transmit signals from [extracellular]–> [intracellular]
What are peripheral proteins?
Peripheral proteins are proteins that are attached to the outside of the membrane via [electrostatic interactions]
What are lipid-anchored proteins?
Lipid-anchored proteins are proteins that are [tethered] to the membrane via [covalent interactions] with lipids.
[Q:] Tell me about carbs on the membrane
Carbs are the membrane are NEVER present by themselves. They are covalently bound to lipids or proteins that face the extracellular side
[Q:} What is an example of a carb on the membrane?
Glycocalyx- a carb shell that is located on the surface of cells.
What is glycocalyx important for?
- Protection
- Cell adhesion–> lets cells make stable contact with other cells.
- Cell identification–> allows the body to determine if a cell is healthy or not.
_________________ are often glycoslyated
Both membrane proteins and lipids.
Another example of carbs on the membranes?
Antigens! Antigens are carbs that are found on the surface of red blood cells: they serve as markers for our blood type
What can happen if there is an incompatible transfusion?
- acute hemolysis
- renal failure
- Shock
Blood group O Antigen
H
Antibody
Antibody is an Ig made by the immune sx. They are located in the blood and recognize aliens