Biological Membranes Flashcards
(7 cards)
What are the components of biological membranes?
Sphingomyelin, Cerebroside, Ganglioside, Phosphoacylglycerol, Cholesterol
What is the structure of the lipid bilayer?
The bilayer has a nonpolar hydrophobic core of ~35-40Å, with polar surfaces in contact with water.
What interactions hold the lipid bilayer together?
Noncovalent interactions such as van der Waals and hydrophobic interactions.
How do the inner and outer layers of the bilayer differ?
The outer layer has a higher concentration of bulky molecules, while the inner layer contains smaller molecules.
What affects the fluidity of the membrane?
The arrangement of the hydrocarbon interior can be ordered and rigid or disordered and fluid, depending on composition.
How do saturated and unsaturated fatty acids affect membrane fluidity?
Saturated fatty acids lead to close packing and rigidity, while unsaturated fatty acids introduce kinks that cause disorder.
What is the significance of lipid composition in membranes?
The distribution of major lipid types such as phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and cholesterol varies widely.
