BIOL 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Unsaturated Hydrocarbon, Lipid Bilayer, Alkane

69 views3 pages
3 May 2018
Department
Course
Professor
Membrane Structure and Function
September 18, 2014
The plasma membrane is a boundary that separates the living cell from its surroundings. A
membrane is only 8nm thick and exhibits selective permeability.
Composition
A plasma membrane is composed of:
1. Lipids
Phospholipids:
o The ability of phospholipids to form membranes is inherent in their
molecular structure
o Phospholipids are amphipathic (has both a hydrophilic and
hydrophobic region)
o Due to these properties phospholipids will form a bilayer in water
o Unsaturated hydrocarbon tails increase fluidity while saturated
hydrocarbon tails decrease the fluidity of the membrane
o Phospholipid = Glycerol + 2 Fatty Acids + phosphate + small
molecule
Cholesterol
o Affects the membrane fluidity
2. Proteins
Integral proteins penetrate into the hydrophobic region of the lipid bilayer
Peripheral proteins are on the surface of the bilayer (not embedded)
These proteins are asymmetrical
Functions:
o Hormone-binding sites
o Immobilized enzymes
o Cell adhesion
o Cell-to-cell communication
o Transport
3. Carbohydrates
Glycolipids and glycoproteins
Selective Permeability
Biological membranes are barriers to solute movement by exhibiting selective permeability
to allow some substance through the membrane.
1. Passive Transport
No energy required
Molecules move down their concentration gradient from an area of high
solute concentration to a region of low solute concentration
I. Facilitated Diffusion
Channel transport proteins (ex. Aquaporin)
Carrier transport proteins
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Unlock document

This preview shows page 1 of the document.
Unlock all 3 pages and 3 million more documents.

Already have an account? Log in

Get access

Grade+20% off
$8 USD/m$10 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Grade+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
40 Verified Answers
Class+
$8 USD/m
Billed $96 USD annually
Class+
Homework Help
Study Guides
Textbook Solutions
Class Notes
Textbook Notes
Booster Class
30 Verified Answers

Related Documents

Related Questions