BIOSCI 107 Cell Processes Short Answers Flashcards
What is the Basic Membrane Structure?
A thin, 8nm flexible and sturdy barrier surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.
What are the 4 Characteristics of the Fluid Mosaic Model?
Sea of lipids with proteins floating like icebergs, membrane 50% lipid, 50% protein, barrier to entry or exit of polar substances, proteins regulate traffic.
Where are Cholesterol and Glycolipids?
Scattered among a double row of phospholipid molecules.
What does Amphipathic Mean? Give an Example.
Has both a polar and non-polar region - phospholipid molecules.
Which 3 Factors Determine Fluidity?
Lipid tail length (longer = less fluid), number of double bonds (more = increased fluidity), amount of cholesterol (more = less fluid).
What are Integral Proteins?
Extend into or completely across cell membrane.
What are Peripheral Proteins?
Attached to inner or outer surface of cell membrane (easily removed).
What do the Hydrophilic Ends of Proteins do?
Interact with the aqueous solution.
What are the 3 Characteristics of Integral Membrane Proteins?
Amphipathic, have hydrophobic regions, have regions of non polar amino acids coiled into helices.
What are the 6 Functions of Membrane Proteins?
Receptors, cell identity markers, linkers, enzymes, ion channels, transporter proteins.
What is Selective Permeability?
The membrane allows some substances to cross but excludes others.
What is the Lipid Bilayer Permeable to?
Non-polar molecules, lipid soluble molecules, small uncharged polar molecules.
What are some Examples of a Non-Polar, Uncharged Molecule?
O2, N2 benzene.
What are some Examples of a Lipid Soluble Molecule?
Steroids, fatty acids, some vitamins.
What are some Examples of a Small Uncharged Polar Molecule?
Water, Urea, Glycerol, CO2.
What are some Examples of a Large Uncharged Polar Molecule?
Glucose, amino acids.
What is the Lipid Bilayer Impermeable to?
Large uncharged polar molecules, ions.
How does Temperature Affect Rate of Diffusion?
Higher temp = Faster diffusion.
How does the Molecule Size Affect Diffusion Rate?
Larger = slower.
How does Diffusion Distance Affect Diffusion Rate?
Increased distance = slower rate of diffusion.
How can a Cell Increase Diffusion?
Increase membrane area available for exchange.
How do Molecules Interact with Concentration Gradients?
Non charged molecules will diffuse down their concentration gradients.
How do Molecules Interact with Electrical Gradients?
Ions will be influenced by membrane potential in addition to their concentration gradient.
What is Movement of Ions influenced by?
Electrochemical gradient.
What does the Selectivity Membrane enable?
A difference in concentration or gradient across the membrane to be established.
How do Cells Establish an Electrical Gradient?
Difference in charged ions between the membrane.
What is Osmosis?
Net movement of water through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower water concentration.
What is Osmotic Pressure?
The pressure applied by a solution to prevent the inward flow of water across a semi-permeable membrane.
What are the 3 Properties of a Water Permeable Membrane - Lipid Bilayer?
Small, mercury insensitive, temp dependent.
What are the 3 Properties of a Water Permeable Membrane - Channel?
Large, mercury sensitive, temp independent.
What is Pf is Mediated by?
The aquaporins (9 isoforms).
What is Non-Mediated Transport?
Does not directly used a transport protein.
What is Mediated Transport?
Moves materials with the help of a transport protein.
What is Passive Transport?
Moves substances down their concentration gradient with only their kinetic energy.
What is Active Transport?
Uses energy to drive substances against their concentration or electrochemical gradients.
What is Vesicular Transport?
Move materials across membranes in small vesicles either by exocytosis or endocytosis.
What is Non-Mediated Transport Important for?
Absorption of nutrients, excretion of wastes.
Which Molecules undergo Non-Mediated Transport?
Nonpolar, hydrophobic molecules - oxygen, co2, nitrogen, fatty acids, steroids, small alcohols.
What do Ion Channels Form?
A water filled pore that shields the ions from the hydrophobic core of the lipid bilayer.
Why is Ion Transport Rapid?
Ions do not bind to channel pore.
What is the Advantage of Ionic Selectivity?
Be being selective to a particular ion the channel can harness the energy stored in the different ion gradients.
What is Gating?
Channels contain gates that control opening and closing of the pore.
What are some Gate Stimuli?
Voltage, ligand binding, cell volume, pH, phosphorylation.
How is an Electrical Current Generated in Ion Channels?
The diffusion of over 1 million ions per second through a channel.