Transport Across Cell Membranes Flashcards
What is cell surface membrane made from?
Phospholipid bilayer
What other attributes are within the cell surface membrane?
Intrinsic proteins Extrinsic proteins Glycoproteins Glycolipid Cholesterol Pore
What is the function of an intrinsic protein?
Helps carry substances across as they lay across the cell surface membrane
E.g glucose or ions
What do extrinsic proteins do?
Add more stability to enzymes
What does cholesterol do?
Increases stability and rigidity by binding to the phospholipid head
Why are the hydrophobic areas of the membrane useful?
Allows selectivity
Stops water loss
Allows movement of soluble or non-polar molecules
Vitamins
Enzymes
What are glycoproteins used for?
Receptor site for hormones
What are glycolipids used for?
Receptor sites for toxins
What does the phospholipid allow?
Small, non-polar or lipid soluble substances pass into or out of the cell
Eg oxygen and water
What term is used to describe the arrangement of the cell membrane?
Fluid-mosaic
Why is the term fluid mosaic used to describe the cell membrane?
Fluid - the individual molecule within the membrane is able to move
Mosaic - proteins ‘float’ in the phospholipid bilayer
What are possible functions of proteins in the cell membrane?
Carriers
Receptors
Enzymes
What is diffusion?
The net movement of molecules or ions from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration with no additional energy required
What kind of process is diffusion?
Passive
Once particles have diffused what happens?
They don’t spread out any more but they move around as they are in constant random motion
What are the two types of diffusion?
Simple
Facilitated
What is simple diffusion?
Just molecules spreading out
How does facilitated diffusion take place?
A molecule binds to a carrier protein in the membrane
They form a water filled pore or channel in the membrane
Allowing ions to diffuse across cell membrane
What is required in facilitated diffusion? What is not?
Channel proteins
No energy required