Plasma membranes Flashcards
Structure of phospholipid
- Phosphate group (polar, hydrophillic head) bonded to glycerol molecule
- 2 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic, non-polar)
function of plasma membranes
- keep cellular components in cell
- allow selected molecules to move in and out
- isolating organelles from the rest of cytoplasm allowing cellular reactions to occur separately
- allows cell to change shape
- site of chemical reactions eg. respiration
fluid mosaic model
- mosaic - proteins are scattered within 2 phospholipid layers (bilayer)
- fluid because phospholipids can move around - flexible
- hydrophobic fatty acid tail on inside
- hydrophilic phosphate heads on outside
When exposed to water, what are the 2 structures phospholipds can form?
micelle - circular shape
bilayer - straight layer
- both have hydrophobic tails on inside and hydrphillic heads on outside
is it easier for hydrophobic or hydrophilic molecules to pass through the membrane?
- hydrophobic because the centre (fatty acids) is hydrophobic
eg. steroid hormones - prevents hydrophilic molecules passing through easily because they’re polar and can’t pass through non-polar membrane (apart from water because they’re small)
glycolipid function in membrane
- recognition site for toxins eg. cholera
- antigen - are recognised by immune system as one of their own cells
- branched carbohydrate structure attached to head
glycoprotein function in membrane
- presenting antigens
- allow cells to attach to each other to form tissues such as nervous tissue
- receptors for hormones
- intrinsic protein
cholesterol function in membrane
- stability, flexibility and fluidity - the more cholesterol the less fluidity and less permeability
cholesterol structure
- hydrophobic region one end - attracts non-polar fatty acids in phospholipids
- hydrophilic group other end - attracts the polar head of phospholipid
components of plasma membrane
glycolipid, glycoprotein, cholesterol, extrinsic and intrinsic proteins, hydrophobic tails, hydrophillic heads
extrinsic protein function in plasma membrane
- structure
- enzymes
- receptors for molecules such as hormones
intrinsic protein function in membrane
- carrier proteins - important in passive and active transport into cells - can change shape to allow molecules to pass through
- channel proteins - lined with hydrophilic amino acids and filled with water molecules - allow water soluble molecules and ions to diffuse through
- some are receptors for hormones, neurotransmitters etc.
What effect does heat have on the plasma membrane?
- as temperature increases, kinetic energy of phospholipid increases
- creates gap between bilayer
- molecules can pass through gaps increasing permeability
effect of low pH on membrane
- increases permeability
- acidity changes tertiary structure of proteins in membrane
- can cause them to denature
what effect do solvents (water / alcohol and benzene) have on the plasma membrane?
- water is polar so creates stability with phospholipids
- alcohols and benzene are less polar so can disrupt the bilayer structure - making it more permeable