M&R Flashcards
What is an amphipathic molecule?
Molecule that contains both hydrophilic and hydrophobic moieties
In what ways can lipid molecules move in a Lipid Bilayer?
- Vibration
- Rotation
- Lateral Diffusion
- Flip-flop
How are lipid bilayers formed in water?
Spontaneous - driven by the van der Walls between the hydrophobic tails
In which ways can membrane proteins move in a lipid bilayer?
- Conformational change
- Rotation
- Lateral diffusion
How are peripheral membrane proteins bound to the surface of cells? How are they removed?
- Bound by electrostatic + H-bonds
- Removed by changes in pH or ionic strength
How are Integral membrane proteins bound to cells? How are they removed?
- Interact with the hydrophobic regions of lipid bilayer
- Removed with detergent or organic solvents which compete for non-polar interactions in the bilayer
Describe the Protein Secretion Pathway
- Free Ribosome initiates protein synthesis from mRNA
- Hydrophobic N-terminal is produced
- Recognised & bound by Signal Recognition Peptide (SRP)
- Protein synthesis stops
- GTP-bound SRP directs the ribosome to SRP receptors on ER
- SRP dissociates
- Protein synthesis continues and protein is fed into the ER via a pore called Peptide Translocation Complec
- Signal sequence is removed by signal peptidase, ribosome detaches
How does Cholesterol work?
- Reduces phospholipid packing, increasing fluidity
- Reduces phospholipid chain motion, decreasing membrane fluidity
How is the Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton structured?
A network of Actin + Spectrin is attached to the membrane by Ankyrin. Attachment of integral membrane proteins to the cytoskeleton restricts lateral mobility of the membrane protein
What causes Hereditary Spherocytosis?
Decreased levels of Spectrin results in the rounding up + increased lysis of RBC’s
What causes Hereditary Elliptocytosis?
Spectrin molecules are unable to form stable heterotatramers which leads to fragile ellipsoid cells
What is the approximate composition of a biological membrane?
40% Lipid, 60% Protein, 1-10% Carbohydrates
How do Loop Diuretics work?
Block Na re-uptake in the thick ascending limb
Describe how transporters produce diarrhoea
CFTR is overly active once phosphorylated by Protein Kinase A, Cl is excessively transported into the lumen which causes water to follow
What is the resting membrane potential of Nerve cells?
-50mV to -70mV
What is the resting potential of Smooth Muscle cells?
-50mV
What is the resting potential of Cardiac + Skeletal muscle cells?
-80mV to -90mV
What is the Intracellular + Extracellular concentration of Na+?
Intra - 10mM
Extra - 145mM
Whats the Intracellular + Extracellular concentration of K+?
Intra - 160mM
Extra - 4.5mM
Whats the Intracellular + Extracellular concentration of Cl-?
Intra - 2mM
Extra - 114mM
What happens in fast Synaptic Transmission?
The receptor protein is also an ion channel so binding of the transmitter causes the channel to open
What happens in Slow Synaptic Transmission?
The receptor protein + ion channel are separate. They are connected by either G-proteins or intracellular messengers
Describe an action potential
- Membrane is depolarised past threshold
- Voltage gated Na channels open causing Na influx + depolarisation of membrane
- Na channels are inactivated
- Voltage gated K channels are opened by depolarisation causing flux of K causing depolarisation of membrane
What is the Absolute Refractory Period?
Nearly all Na channels are in the inactivated state + a second action potential can’t be stimulated no matter how large the stimulus