Session 2.3c - Workbook Notes - Lecture 2 Flashcards
Aims:
Consider the distribution of proteins in membrane structure
- peripheral
- integral
generally in fluid phase (cholesterol-poor region)
Aims:
Consider the role of proteins in membrane structure
Can have a role in cytoskeleton
Aims:
Consider the importance of an asymmetric distribution of membrane proteins
Different distribution/orientation is due to different functions e.g. receptor for insulin must be directed extracellularly
Aims:
Consider the importance of mechanisms for the correct insertion of membrane proteins into the lipid bilayer
Ensures proteins have topography
Aims:
Consider the structure of the erythrocyte cytoskeleton.
Spectrin
LO:
Outline the evidence for membrane proteins
Functional
Biochemical
- freeze fracture
- gel electrophoresis
LO:
Describe how membrane proteins associate with the lipid bilayer
- peripheral
- integral
LO:
Describe how membrane proteins may move
- conformational change
- rotational
- lateral
LO:
Describe how membrane proteins contribute to the
cytoskeleton
- spectrin
LO:
Describe how membrane proteins inserted into membranes
- SRP/SS/DP/SP
LO:
Discuss how the correct orientation of membrane proteins
achieved
- SRP/SS/DP/SP
- SP cleavage - N-terminal facing lumen
What is the current model of membrane structure?
The lipid mosaic theory (Singer-Nicholson model)
What is the Singer-Nicholson model?
The lipid mosaic theory of membrane structure
What are biological membranes composed of?
A lipid bilayer with associated membrane proteins, which may be integral or peripheral.
What is an integral membrane protein?
Proteins that are deeply embedded into the bilayer
What is a peripheral membrane protein?
Proteins that are associated with the surface
What are deeply embedded bilayer proteins called?
Integral membrane proteins
What are proteins associated with the surface called?
Peripheral membrane proteins
Fig. 5
Caption and label this image.
Extracytoplasmic Surface
Cytoplasmic surface
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
Draw the Singer-Nicholson model.
See Fig. 5
Extracytoplasmic Surface
Cytoplasmic surface
Hydrophilic
Hydrophobic
(Hydrophobic regions fully enclosed
Hydrophilic areas exposed to the outside/water)
Describe peripheral membrane proteins.
- Deeply embedded in the bilayer
- Bound to the surface of membranes by electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions
- Can be removed by changes in pH or ionic strength
How are peripheral membrane proteins bound to the surface of membranes?
By electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions.
How can we remove peripheral proteins from the membrane?
By changes in pH or ionic strength
Which type of protein is bound by electrostatic and hydrogen bond interactions?
Peripheral
Which type of protein can be removed from the membrane by changes in pH or ionic strength?
Peripheral only (not integral)
What do integral membrane proteins interact with?
Extensively with the hydrophobic regions of the lipid bilayer
Which proteins interact extensively with the hydrophobic regions of the lipid bilayer?
Integral (they pass through the membrane)
What can integral membrane proteins not be removed by?
Manipulation of pH or ionic strength
What do integral membrane proteins require for removal?
Agents which compete for the non-polar interactions in the bilayer.
Give two examples of agents which can remove integral membrane proteins.
- Detergents
- Organic solvents
Explain how integral membrane proteins are removed and how? (3 marks)
They cannot be removed by manipulation of pH or ionic strength (1 mark) because the bonds are too strong.
They therefore require agents which compete for the non-polar interactions in the bilayer (1 mark).
These include detergents and organic solvents (1 mark).
What is asymmetrical orientation of membrane proteins?
Certain proteins must have an orientation, e.g. receptors may need to face extracellularly rather than intracellularly for function.
Why do we need asymmetrical orientation of proteins?
Important for function
Give an example of a need for asymmetrical orientation in membrane proteins.
A receptor for a hydrophilic extracellular messenger molecule, such as insulin, must have its recognition site directed towards the extracellular space to be able to function.
What sort of molecule is insulin?
A hydrophilic extracellular messenger molecule
Why must the insulin receptor face extracellularly?
Because insulin is a hydrophilic extracellular messenger molecule, so needs to face that way for function.
Why do we look at the erythrocyte membrane?
It is a model plasma membrane
What do we use as a model plasma membrane?
The erythrocyte membrane (because it has no organelles so is the simplest membrane).
How can we prepare erythrocyte ghosts?
By osmotic haemolysis to release cytoplasmic components
What does osmotic haemolysis of erythrocyte membranes do?
Release its cytoplasmic components.
How can we analyse ghost membranes?
By gel electrophoresis
What have we discovered in analysis of ghost membranes?
Over 10 major proteins
What are the major erythrocyte membrane proteins found by gel electrophoresis called?
The major ones have been numbered 1 2 3 4.1 4.2 5 6 7 etc
Most of the membrane proteins in erythrocyte membranes are peripheral proteins. How do we know?
Most of these proteins are released when ghost membranes are treated with high ionic strength medium or by changing the pH
Most of the membrane proteins in erythrocyte membranes are released when treated with high ionic strength
medium or by changing the pH. What does this indicate?
Most of the major proteins are peripheral proteins.
How do we know that most of the erythocyte proteins are located on the cytoplasmic face?
They are susceptible to proteolysis only when the cytoplasmic face of the membrane is accessible.
Many erythrocyte membrane proteins are susceptible to proteolysis only when the cytoplasmic face of the membrane is accessible. What can we infer from this?
These peripheral proteins must be located on the cytoplasmic face
What are 2 major integral membrane proteins of erythrocytes?
Protein bands 3 and 7
What do protein bands 3 and 7 in erythrocyte membranes have in common? Give TWO answers
- They are both integral proteins
- They are both glycoproteins
Protein bands 3 and 7 can only be dissociated from the red cell membrane by detergents. What does this suggest?
They are integral proteins.
How do we know protein bands 3 and 7 in the RBC membrane are integral proteins?
They can only be dissociated from the red cell membrane by detergents
Protein bands 3 and 7 of the RBC membrane contain covalently attached carbohydrate units. What term do we use to describe these molecules?
Glycoproteins.
Proteins bands 3 and 7 are glycoproteins. Describe their structure.
Both proteins contain covalently attached carbohydrate units
How are the carbohydrate units attached in glycoproteins?
Covalently
What is the nature of the carbohydrate groups in glycoproteins?
They are highly hydrophilic and extracellular
Which part of the glycoprotein is hydrophilic?
The carbohydrate group
Which part of protein bands 3 and 7 are extracellular?
The hydrophilic carbohydrate group (because they are glycoproteins).
What is the significance of protein bands 3 and 7 being glycoproteins?
The highly hydrophilic nature of the extracellular carbohydrate groups acts to lock the orientation of the protein in the membrane by preventing flip-flop rotation
How is flip-flop rotation prevented in glycoproteins?
The highly hydrophilic nature of the extracellular carbohydrate groups acts to lock the orientation of the protein in the membrane by preventing flip-flop rotation
What carbohydrate structures are available on different membrane proteins?
A great variety of carbohydrate structures is possible on different proteins.
What is the significance of having a great variety of carbohydrate structures on membrane proteins?
Specific carbohydrate groups on membrane proteins may be important for cellular recognition to allow tissues to form and in immune recognition.
Give 2 functions of the carbohydrate group on membrane proteins
- Cellular recognition to allow tissues to form
- Immune recognition.
What is the cytoskeleton?
The membrane skeleton
What is the term used to describe the membrane skeleton?
The cytoskeleton
What type of proteins are the cytoskeleton proteins?
Peripheral membrane proteins