Module 3 Flashcards
What are lipids?
Lipids are large biological molecules that encompass fats, phospholipids, and steroids. They have poor or no mixing ability with water.
What is a fatty acid?
- A fatty acid is a carboxylic acid characterized by a long carbon chain.
- These chains can vary in length and possess different numbers and locations of double bonds.
saturated Fats?
Saturated fats have fully hydrogen-saturated fatty acid chains:
= making them solid at room temperature
= contributing to the rigidity of cellular membranes.
Unsaturated Fats?
- Unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature :
- due to have fewer hydrogen atoms, + double bonds between carbons,
- creating bends in fatty acid chains.
= This enhances membrane fluidity, allowing more movement. - In cellular membranes, unsaturated phospholipids result in increased membrane fluidity:
= allowing for more movement.
How is melting point related to the level of saturation in fatty acids?
- saturated fats have a higher melting point and are more viscous.
- Higher unsaturation (double bonds) leads to lower melting temperatures and less viscosity.
Variations in lipid composition of cell membranes of many species appear to be due to:
- to specific environmental conditions.
- These adaptations help maintain membrane fluidity and functionality in different habitats and temperature ranges.
What are some examples of variations in the cell membrane lipid compositions of species?
- fish in cold environments have membranes rich in unsaturated hydrocarbon tails for fluidity.
- Thermophilic bacteria and archaea in hot springs use unique lipids to maintain membrane stability at extreme temperatures.
What is the plasma membrane?
- the boundary membrane of every cell, functioning as a selective barrier that regulates the cell’s chemical composition.
- composed of bilayers of phospholipids.
What are the roles of the plasma membrane?
Compartmentalization: Creating separate compartments within the cell.
Site for Biochemical Activities: Hosting various cellular processes.
Selective Permeable Barrier: Regulating what enters and exits the cell.
Transporting Solutes: Facilitating the movement of substances.
Responding to External Stimuli: Participating in signal transduction.
Intercellular Interaction: Enabling communication with other cells.
Energy Transduction: Playing a role in energy-related processes.
What is a phospholipid? Which regions are hydrophobic?hydrophilic?
- A phospholipid is a lipid composed of glycerol linked to two fatty acids and a phosphate group.
- The hydrocarbon chains of the fatty acids are nonpolar and hydrophobic, meaning they repel water.
- The phosphate group, along with the glycerol, forms a polar, hydrophilic head, which interacts with water and is attracted to it.
- This dual nature of phospholipids, with hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads, is essential for their role in forming cell membranes.
Why are phospholipids said to be amphipathic?
because it has both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region
How are phospholipids assembled?
- Phospholipids assemble into bilayers, with their hydrophilic (polar) heads facing the surrounding polar water molecules and their hydrophobic tails oriented away from water.
- The bilayer structure restricts the passage of polar molecules across the membrane.
The diversity in the membrane composition of phospholipids can vary based on what?
can vary significantly between species, as well as within organs, tissues, and individual cells.
Phospholipids can differ based on:
- Fatty acid chains
= (length, number, and position of double bonds). - Fatty acid linkage
= (ester versus ether). - Head group
= (e.g., phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, etc.).
Membrane fluidity
ability of lipid molecules to move laterally within the membrane plane, creating a “fluid mosaic” of phospholipids and proteins.
Factors Affecting Membrane Fluidity:
Lipid Composition: Short unsaturated chains increase fluidity, while saturated chains decrease it.
Temperature: Fluidity decreases in colder conditions.
Cholesterol: Reduces fluidity at moderate temperatures by limiting phospholipid movement but prevents solidification at low temperatures by disrupting regular packing.
What does increased fluidity cause?
enhances membrane permeability and the functioning of membrane proteins.
Describe the permeability of cell membrane.
- selectively permeable, allowing only specific substances to pass through.
- diffusion rates of different substances through the membrane can vary widely
Permeability Is higher for..
- smaller molecules
- less polar (charged) molecules
- more hydrophobic molecules
- highly lipid-soluble substances
- gas (ex: O2, CO2…)
- water, urea, CO2, O2
What are transport proteins?
- transmembrane proteins that temporarily modify membrane permeability
= assisting the selective passage of specific molecules into or out of the cell. - They provide a means for cells to regulate permeability as needed.
What is Fick’s Law of Diffusion?
Fick’s Law states that the flux of molecules moves from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration.
This movement is a result of the random motion of individual molecules in all directions.
What is the chemical gradient?
- difference in solute concentration across a membrane.
- It drives the movement of ions from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration
= helping restore equilibrium.
Movement of Charged Molecules depedent on what 2 gradients:
If a molecule is charged, its net movement depends on both the
1. chemical gradient (concentration difference)
- electric gradient (charge difference)
across the plasma membrane.
What is passive diffusion?
- a type of simple diffusion across the phospholipid bilayer that doesn’t require energy (no ATP).
- involves the random movement of molecules, equalizing their concentration.
- Molecules move along their concentration gradient.
- At equilibrium, an equal number of molecules move in both directions.
- Examples include
1. water
2. fat,
3. fat-soluble molecules
4. oxygen
5. nitrogen
6. carbon dioxide
7. alcohol.
Can diffusion be facilitated?
Yes.
- Facilitated diffusion occurs with the assistance of highly selective membrane transport proteins (channels) that enable specific molecules to pass through,
= aquaporins in kidney duct
Rate of passive diffusion depends on
Gradients of concentration
- Electrical gradients
- Mass of the molecules
- Temperature
- Solvent density
- Lipid solubility
- Membrane surface area
- Distance travelled by molecules
- Hydrostatic pressure or partial pressure
- Transport proteins
- Membrane fluidity
How is the cell able to modify (regulate) the entry/exit of molecules?
Cells regulate molecule entry/exit through:
- Gene expression changes for membrane transport proteins.
- Temporary opening and closing of transport proteins.
What are the two key factors that a cell can maintain within its membrane?
- specific solute concentrations
- electric potential across the membrane.
Why is the inside of the cell negative?
- because of the presence of negatively charged phosphate groups and proteins in the cytoplasm
- the movement of ions in and out of the cell.
where does the net movement of a population of molecules go towards
lower concentrations (chemical gradient)
T/F
when at concentration equilibrium, there is no movement of molecules
FALSE
although low, there can still be movement across the plasma membrane, in equal numbers to keep equilibrium
T/F
diffusion can be facilitated by membrane transport protein (channels)
true, channels are highly selective, only let specific molecules through
T/F
can never have molecule go against concentration gradient
FALSE
can have few molecule go against their concentration gradient, but net movement will be towards concentration gradient
T/F, the inside of the cell in positively charged relative to the outside of the cell, why?
FALSE, inside is more negative
presence of phosphate groups and proteins (both negatively charged)
membrane potential (aka electrical potential)
charge difference (voltage) across the plasma membrane
the attraction of opposites charges across the plasma membrane is a source of potential energy
resting membrane potential
aka baseline membrane potential
-70mV
depolarization
increase of membrane potential (becoming less negative)
T/F
FALSE, approaches the equilibrium potential of the ion
which way do Na+ and Ca2+ diffuse towards and why
inside the cell, low potential/slow current
which way do K+ and Cl- diffuse towards and why
outside the cell, high potential/high current