Topic 1 Flashcards
Fluid Mosaic Model
fluid- fatty chins of the phospholipids are like thick oily liquid
mosaic-external surface (viewed from above) has mosaic appearance, various embedded proteins in uniform background
Function of plasma membrane
- Selectively controls molecules entering and leaving the cell- diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, active transport, bulk transport
- establishes compartments in cell, separates cell components
- restricts movement of substances between one part of cell from another
- have receptors involved in intercellular communication via nerves/hormones
- involved in cell recognition and adhesion-can recognise and respond to self/non-self molecules
- produce electrical activity
Phospholipid structure
- hydrophilic head made of phosphate groups
- two hydrophobic tails consisting of fatty acid chains
what does phospholipid structure allow
flexible, soft. and self repairing-allows shape change
- e.g RBC can squeeze through capillaries
- nucleus can be pierced and then repair itself
why are phospholipids amphipathic
they contain a hydrophilic and hydrophobic portion
Transport proteins passive transport) function
allows some substances to move through membrane via facilitated diffusion
- two different types carrier and channel proteins
- these become saturated- has maximum rate of transportation
transport proteins
a gated protein channel, opens to transport a specific molecule, in response to contact with another molecule
transport proteins (active transport)
protein pump involved in active transport- requires ATP input
also referred to as carrier proteins
catalytic proteins
enzymes speed up rate of chemical reactions across the membrane
receptor proteins
hormones and other substances bind to them- affects cell activities
-different cell types have different receptor proteins e.g glycoproteins
recognition proteins
act as markers-antigens
- enable immune system to recognise self from non self
e. g glycoproteins
adhesion proteins
join cells together-multi-cellular organisms
occluding, communication and anchoring junctions
cytoskeleton proteins
anchor cytoskeleton to membrane
cholesterol function
regulates membrane consistency, firmness and stability
also maintains fluidity by separating fatty acid tails-to avoid crystallisation
-reduces some solutes permeability
glycolipids functions
play role in tissue recognition
glyco- meaning carbohydrate
glycoproteins functions
cell surface markers-antigens