Unit 3 AOS 1: Plasma Membrane Flashcards
Phospholipids
- When placed in water, phospholipids will spontaneously form a lipid bilayer
- Hydrophobic tails face inwards, away from watery solution; hydrophilic heads face outwards, towards a watery solution
Fluid Mosaic Model
Is the theory of how the plasma membrane is structured
● The plasma membrane is fluid because it’s main
component, phospholipids continually move laterally (side to side) in the membrane
➔ Occasionally, phospholipids may ‘flip-flop’ between the two layers of the plasma membrane
● The ‘mosaic’ component of the model comes from the proteins and carbohydrates embedded in the membrane
➔ These molecules can move about the bilayer, like ice floating on water
Glycoproteins
markers for cell-cell communication
Semipermeable
(selectively permeable): only selected substances can pass through while others stay out.
Glycolipids
maintain the stability of the cell and assist cellular recognition
Transmembrane protein
A functional protein, often composed of more than one polypeptide molecule, which spans the entire thickness of the plasma membrane.
Integral proteins
- Embedded in bilayer
- “Transmembrane”
- Hard to be separated from PM
- Often have glycoproteins attached
Peripheral proteins
- Exterior only
- Can be easily separated from PM
Cholesterol
A substance found in cell membranes; in cold temperatures, it makes the PM more fluid and vice versa during hot temperatures (i.e. keeps the PM at a similar
fluidity level regardless of external temperatures that would otherwise affect it)
Hydrophobic
Repelled by water; non-polar
Hydrophilic
Attracted to water; polar
Factors affecting permeability
Temperature
Phospholipid composition and structure
Cholesterol
4 ways molecules can cross the PM
- Diffusion
- Facilitated Diffusion
- Osmosis
- Active Transport
Characteristics of molecules can cross the PM
Method of transport depends on:
- Size of the molecule (bigger is harder)
- Charge of the molecule (charged is harder)
- Polar (hydrophilic) or non-polar (hydrophobic) (non-polar (lipid-soluble) is easier)
- Concentration gradient (easier if conc. gradient is high)
- Small uncharged polar molecules can cross
- Small hydrophobic molecules can cross
Distinguish simple and facilitated diffusion
Simple diffusion: The passive net movement of a solute from a region of high solute concentration to low solute concentration across a semi-permeable membrane
- Passive form of transport
- Small, lipid-soluble (non-polar), uncharged molecules (including osmosis)
Facilitated diffusion: The passive net movement of a substance from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration via a membrane protein
- Passive transport
- Assistance required for molecules to pass through
- Uses protein transporters
> protein carriers: molecule binds, protein carrier changes shape, moves the substance down and out
> protein channels: doesn’t change shape, acts like a pore. Transports substances faster than diffusion.
> e.g. aquaporins – enables water to enter and exit quickly
> e.g. beta-barrels – enables water to enter and exit quickly because of internal
polar amino acids and external non-polar amino acids
Osmosis
Net movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration
- (solute = substance e.g. salt, sugar)
- Type of simple diffusion related to water (therefore is passive)
Cytosol
the liquid part of the cell that suspends the organelles.
Cytoplasm
Includes cytosol and all organelles except for the nucleus.
Mitochondria
Organelle where majority of ATP synthesis occurs – this ATP is needed for exocytosis to occur. Double- membrane.
Ribosomes
An organelle made of protein and ribosomal RNA (rRNA) – the site where polypeptides are made
Endoplasmic reticulum
System of membrane-bound channels. Allows things to channel throughout the cells (the rough ER has ribosomes embedded in its surface, the smooth ER does not). Double-membrane. Transports proteins around the cell via transport vesicles. Manufactures lipids.