module 9 Flashcards
what are the membrane functions?
-separate cells from external environment: create unique intracellular environment
-allow selective transport of substrates in and out of cell
-provide location for specialized pathways and processes
-rapid changes in electric potential across the membranes of neurons
-localization of receptors to facilitate response to physiological signals
-mediate cell-to-cell recognition and interaction
membranes are: (membrane characteristics)
-sheet-like structures, two molecules thick, between compartments
-consist mainly of lipid and proteins, with carbohydrates linked to them
-build from amphipathic molecules
-impermeable to polar molecules (pretty much all biomolecules)
-self-assembling, non-covalent structures
-fluid and dynamic structures
-highly specialized in their composition and distribution (assymetric; outer and inner face)
specific membrane proteins mediate ______________
particular biological functions
what is the basic structural element of membranes?
LIPID BILAYER
-membrane formation is from amphipathic nature of the membrane lipid
-self-assemble through the hydrophobic effect
what causes membranes to have different structures?
the structure formed depends on the ratio of cross-sectional areas of the polar head group and the hydrophobic tai
-fatty acids favor micelle formation
-lipids with two hydrocarbons tails (glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids) tend to form bilayers
how do lipid bilayers form membrane vesicles?
-exposure of hydrophobic tails at the edge of the bilayer to water is energetically unfavorable
-flat bilayer sheets are unstable and spontaneously form membrane vesicles with an internal volume
-these vesicles are the basic of cells and organelles
what are membranes permable to?
-bilayers have a very low permeability to ions and most polar molecules
-permeability of small molecules is correlated with their relative solubility in water
-some small non-polar gases (O2 and CO2) and small hydrophobic molecules (like the fat soluble hormones) can pass directly through the membrane
-NOT WATER, use aquaporin
what are vesicles for drug delivery?
-cell membrane can represent a critical barrier for polar drugs intended for intracellular targets
-encapsulation of a drug within a liposome can facilitate transport across the membrane
-liposomes can also be used to target specific cells or organelles
why are ratios different from membrane to membrane?
-membranes are primarily composed of lipids and proteins
-more active membranes have a higher ration of protein to lipid
-composition of membrane components can be dynamic, in particular for prokaryotes
what is the fluid mosaic model?
SHOW FREEDOM OF LATERAL DIFFSUSION
-membranes are dynamic structures due to the nature of the non-covalent interactions
-lipids and proteins freely diffuse in the plane of the membrane
-lateral movement of proteins and lipids within the membrane is very rapid
-movement across the membrane is restricted
is the composition of the inner and outer sheets the same?
-lipid composition of the inner and outer sheets of the bilayer can be different, allowing for specialization of the membrane faces
transbilayer movement requires ________
CATALYSIS
how does transbilayer movement happen?
-requires a polar head group to pass through hydrophobic environment
-uncatalyzed rate of lipid molecule crossing from one sheet to the other (flip-flop diffusion) is very slow
-translocation of lipids from one side of bilayer to the other is catalyzed by enzymes called flippases
what is membrane fluidity? what are examples of composition
-cells need to maintain appropriate levels of membrane fluidity
cells can adjust membrane composition to maintain liquid-ordered state
-bacteria vary the length and saturation of the hydrocarbon tails of membrane lipids
-animals use cholesterol to mediate membrane fluidity
what are the phase transitions of membrane fluidity?
membranes undergo temperature-dependent phase transitions
-below the phase trans temp, membrane is too solid
-above the phase trans temp, membrane is too fluid
-at the phase trans temp, the hydrocarbon chains are partially ordered but lateral diffusion still possible (just right)
what is the table of examples of temperature-dependent changes to membrane composition
what is the specialization of membrane structure and function ?
-composition of membrane components: lipids and proteins
-distribution of membrane components: static and dynamic
-specialized membrane regions: lipid rafts
what are the specialized compositions of distribution of lipids in membranes?
-varies across species and cell types
-this include dynamic changes to composition and/or positioning to regulate biological events
-for example, the movement of phosphatidylserine to outer leaf functions in initiating cell destruction (apoptosis) (kills itself)
what do lipid rafts arise from?
-the spontaneous association of lipid molecules whose hydrocarbon tails are of similar length
what is an example of something that creates lipid rafts?
-sphingolipids (with longer tails) form clusters that exclude glycerophospholipids
-the longer, saturated hydrocarbons of sphingolipids form stable associations making the rafts thicker and more ordered than the rest of the membrane