Transport Across Cell Membranes Flashcards
(54 cards)
How are plasma membrane often described as?
- fluid mosaic model
Why are plasma membranes described as fluid mosaic model?
- due to the mixture of movement of the phospholipids, proteins, glycoproteins and glycolipids it is made of
Are plasma membranes partially permeable?
- yes
Why do the phospholipids arrange as a bilayer?
- hydrophilic heads being attracted to water and face outwards and the hydrophobic tails being repelled by water and face inwards
What does the head of the phospholipid contain?
- phosphate group which is negatively charged
- glycerol molecule
Why is the phospholipid head hydrophilic?
- it is negatively charged
Why are the fatty acid chains of phospholipids hydrophobic?
- do not have charge
What is the role of cholesterol in the phospholipid bilayer?
- restricts the lateral movement of other molecules in the membrane
- makes membrane was fluid at high temperatures and prevents water and dissolved ions leaking out of the cell
Why would happen if phospholipid bilayer was too fluid?
- gaps between phospholipids increase and evoke too large
- water and dissolved ions can leak in or out of the cell
- could cause dehydration or cells to burst
Integral (intrinsic)proteins
- protein carriers or channel proteins involved in the transport of molecule across the membrane
Peripheral (extrinsic) proteins
- provide mechanical support or are connected to proteins or lipids to make glycoproteins and glycol lipids
- function is cell recognition as receptors
Describe structure of peripheral (extrinsic) proteins
- proteins that do not extend completely across the membrane
Describe the structure of integral (intrinsic) proteins
- proteins that span across from one side of the bilayer to the other
Protein channels
- forms tubes that fill with water to enable water soluble ions to diffuse
Carrier proteins
- bind with larger molecules such as glucose and amino acids and change shape to transport them to the other aid of the membrane
Examples of proteins in the phospholipid bilayer
- peripheral membrane (extrinsic) protein
- integral membrane (intrinsic) protein
- glycoprotein
- channel protein
What is a glycoprotein?
- protein with a carbohydrate chain attached to
What is a glycolipid?
- lipid with a carbohydrate chain attached
Which molecules can diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer?
- lipid soluble substances (some hormones)
- very small molecules (carbon dioxide, oxygen and water)
Which molecules cannot pass through the phospholipid bilayer by simple diffusion?
- water soluble (polar) substances (sodium ions)
- large molecules (glucose)
What are the four key types of transport?
- Simple diffusion
- Facilitated diffusion
- Active transport
- Osmosis
Simple diffusion
- the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached
- does not require ATP
Which energy is required for simple diffusion and what are the requirements?
- kinetic energy
- must be lipid double and small
Facilitated diffusion
- the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration with the use of protein channels or carriers to transport molecules