Topic 2B - Cell membranes Flashcards
What does the fluid mosaic model (1972) show us?
The arrangement of molecules in the membrane
How do phospholipids molecules relate to the Fluid mosaic model?
In the model, phospholipid molecules form a continuous, double layer.
- This bilayer is fluid because the phospholipids are constantly moving
How do cholesterol molecules relate to the Fluid mosaic model?
Cholesterol molecules are present within the bilayer
How do proteins relate to the Fluid mosaic model?
- Proteins are scattered through the bilayer, like tiles in a mosaic (including channel and carrier proteins which allow large molecules/ions to pass through membrane)
- Receptor proteins on the cell-surface membrane allow the cell to respond to chemicals like hormones .
- Some proteins can move sideways through the bilayer, whilst some are fixed
- Some proteins have a polysaccharide chain attached - This is called glycoproteins
How do lipids relate to the Fluid Mosaic model?
Some lipids also have a polysaccharide chain attached - called glycolipids
How do phospholipids act as a barrier to dissolved substances?
The centre of the bilayer is hydrophobic so the membrane doesnt allow water-soluble substances, like ions, through it
What is cholesterol and how does it give the membrane stability?
- Cholesterol is a type of lipid that’s present in all cell membranes (except bacterial cell membranes)
- Cholesterol molecules fit between the phospholipids. They bind to their hydrophobic tails, causing them to pack more closely together, making the membrane less fluid and more rigid
- Cholesterol helps maintain the shape of animal cells . This is especially important for cells that aren’t supported by other cells, whch float free in the blood.
What is diffusion?
Diffusion is the net movement of particles (molecules or ions) from an area of higher concentation to an aea of lower concentration
Define the concentration gradient
The conc gradient is the path from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
- Particles diffuse down a concentration gradient
What type of process in diffusion?
It is a passive process - no energy is needed for it to happen
On what condition can particles diffuse across cell membranes and give an example?
They must be to be able to move freely through membrane
- e.g. Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide can move freely through the membrane as they’re small, so they can pass through spaces between the phospholipids.
- They’re also non-polar, which makes them soluble in lipids, so they can dissolve in the hydrophobic bilayer
What’s simple diffusion? (specifically)
It is a type of diffusion where molecules diffuse directly through a cell membrane
What molecules would diffuse very slowly though the phospholipid bilayer and why?
- Larger molecules (amino acids/glucose) as they’re big
2. Charged particles (ions and polar molecules) as they’re water soluble and the centre of the bilayer is hydrophobic
How can the diffusion of the molecules mentioned earlier be sped up?
Through facilitated diffusion:
- large or charged particles diffuse through carrier and channel proteins in the membrane instead
- faciliated diffusion moves particles down a conc gradient just like simple diffusion
- It’s a passive process so it doesn’t use energy
How do carrier proteins move large molecules through the membrane? (DIAGRAM)
Different carrier proteins facilitate the diffusion of different molecules
1) First, a large molecule attaches to a carrier protein in the membrane
2) Then, the protein changes shape
3 This releases the molecule on the opposite side of the membrane
What is the ‘binding site’ of a carrier protein?
It is the site where large molecules will attach onto in the carrier protein
How do channel proteins move large molecules through the membrane? (DIAGRAM)
Different channel proteins facilitate the diffusion of different charged particles
- Channel proteins form pores in the membrane for charged particles to diffuse through (down the conc gradient)
What does the rate of simple diffusion depend on?
- The conc gradient - The higher it is, the faster the rate of diffusion. As diffusion takes place, the difference in conc between 2 sides of the membrane decreases until it reaches an equilibrium (conc is equal on both sides). This means that diffusion slows down over time
- The thickness of the exchange surface - The thinner the exchange surface (like the shorter the distance the particles have to travel), the faster the rate of diffusion
- The surface area - the larger the surface area of the cell surface membrane, the faster the rate of diffusion
How do microvilli increase the surface area for faster diffusion?
- Microvilli give the cell a larger surface area (in human cells, microvilli can increase the surface area by 600 times)
- A larger surface area means that more particles can be exchanged in the same amount of time, increasing the rate of diffusion
What does the rate of facilitated diffusion depend on?
- The conc gradient - the higher the conc gradient, the faster the rate of facilitated diffusion (up to a point). As equilibrium is reached the rate of facilitated diffusion will level off
- The number of channel or carrier proteins - once all the proteins in a membrane are in use, facilitated diffusion can’t happen any faster, even if you increase the concentration gradient. So the greater the number of channel/carrier proteins in the cell membrane, the faster the rate of facilitated diffusion
How would you work out the rate of diffusion on a straight line graph and a curved graph?
Straight line graph - find gradient of line
Curved line graph - draw tangent at point and find gradient of tangent
Define osmosis.
Osmosis is the diffusion of water molecules across partially permeable membrane, from an area of higher water potential (i.e higher concentration of water molecules) to an area of lower water potential (lower concentration of water molecules)
Define water potential.
It is the potential (likelihood) of water molecules to diffuse out of or into a solution
What has the highest water potential?
Pure water has the highest water potential. All solutions have a lower water potential than pure water
