Module 9 Flashcards
Cell Membranes
Composition of cell membranes
Lipid Bilayer
Phospholipids
Glycerol backbone attached to a phosphate group of 2 fatty acids
Phosphate head
Hydrophilic and polar
H-bond with H20
Amphipathic
Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic ends
Hydrophilic Heads
Outside surface, interacts with H20
Hydrophobic Tails
Isolated from contact with H20
Liposomes
When phospholipids are placed in H20 with a pH of 7, they spontaneously form a cell shape
Dynamic Cell Membranes
Lateral movements of lipids and other components within the membrane
Dynamic membrane allows what
VESICLES to easily detach and rejoin, cells to change SHAPE and cells to ENGULF other cells and particles
How do phospholipids move
Move with their tails interacting
laterally with the plane of the membrane
Rapidly
How can Lipids move
Rapidly around their vertical axis, spinning around
Fatty acid rails flex and bend
What influences the membrane fluidity
Composition of the membrane
Longer fatty acid tails= less fluid
NUmber of C-C bonds in the fatty acids tails
Why are longer fatty acid tails less fluid?
Longer tails= more surface area for Van der Waals bonding with other tails, holding each other in place
What makes the membrane less fluid
More bonding and interactions between fatty acid tails.
What type of fatty acids have stronger Van der Walls, why?
Saturated fats have stronger Van Der waals
They are straight and able to pack more tightly –> More stable, less fluid