BIOL1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Biological Membrane, Cell Membrane, Micelle

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carminedeer281

9 Aug 2016

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The cell membrane consists of two adjacent layers of phospholipids, which form a bilayer. The fatty acid tails of phospholipids face inside, away from water, whereas the phosphate heads face the outward aqueous side. Since the heads face outward, one layer is exposed to the interior of the cell and one layer is exposed to the exterior. As the phosphate groups are polar and hydrophilic, they are attracted to water in the intracellular fluid. The phospholipid bilayer consists of two adjacent sheets of phospholipids, arranged tail to tail. The hydrophobic tails associate with one another, forming the interior of the membrane. The polar heads contact the fluid inside and outside of the cell. Because of the phospholipds" chemical and physical characteristics, the lipid bilayer acts as a semipermeable membrane; only lipophilic solutes can easily pass the phospholipd bilayer. As a result, there are two distinct aqueous compartments on each side of the membrane.

Related Questions

It's a pretty elementary concept, and when I first learned of itI don't think I had the foundations to even think of such aquestion, but I found myself the other day thinking about theamphipathic nature of the phospholipids in the plasma membrane andwhy it might be that lipid-soluble molecules don't stay in betweenthe layers (of the bilayer).

I know that simple diffusion is a response to a concentrationgradient, but consider a case where equilibrium is being restoredand lipid-soluble molecules are diffusing from whateverextracellular matrix through the membrane and into the cytosol.Towards the end of this process, when equilibrium is nearlyrestored and the last few molecules are making their way into thecell, the rate of diffusion for these last couple molecules will beslower than those that diffused when the concentration differencewas greater. Since the polar heads on the outside and inside of thebilayer are hydrophilic but the inner part, where the fatty acidtails are, is hydrophobic, what drives a molecule to leave thecozy, accepting, lipophilic environment of the middle (of thebilayer) to cross through the cytosolic-side rejecting polar headsand enter the cytosol?

I understand that initially these molecules were moving into thecell in response to a difference in intracellular vs extracellularconcentration, but I'm asking whether we would ever see a casewhere the gradient is nearly zero and a molecule in transit simplydecides to reside in between the layers instead of crossing all theway into the cell; as if moving through the cytosolic polar headside is not worth the effort to reduce a nearly-zero gradient tozero.

Please ask me if I can clarify my question in any way -- I'mfinding it difficult to phrase. I asked my professor (who has herdoctorate in toxicology & pharmacology) and she understood whatI was asking but didn't have an answer.

Question 1

Which of the following provides the best description of adifference between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?.l.14.3>

The cell membrane of prokaryotic cells contains proteins, whilethe cell membrane of eukaryotic cells contains only lipids andcarbohydrates.

The DNA in eukaryotic cells is enclosed in the nucleus, whilethe DNA in prokaryotic cells is not separated from the rest of thecellÃ¢â¬â¢s contents.

Eukaryotic cells have cell walls that consist mainly of sugars,while prokaryotic cells do not.

Prokaryotic cells contain chloroplasts and mitochondria, whileeukaryotic cells do not contain specialized organelles.

Question 2

Cellular respiration is a process involving the breakdown ofglucose molecules in order to generate energy for cellularactivities. Given the general reaction below, which of thefollowing best describes the products labeled x andy?

C₆H₁₂O₆ + O₂ Ã¢â â _x___+ __y___ + energy.l.18.8>

The products are CO (carbon monoxide) andH₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), which thendecompose into carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water(H₂O).

The products are H2O (water) and CO₂ (carbondioxide), which then undergo anaerobic respiration.

The products are CO₂ (carbon dioxide) andH₂O (water), which then become the reactants forphotosynthesis.

The products are O₂ (oxygen) and H₂O(water), which are then used for growth and to keep the organismhydrated.

Question 3

If a researcher added a quantity of phospholipid molecules to abeaker of water, what would be most likely to happen to theorientation of the phospholipid molecules?.l.14.2>

They would break apart, and the remaining lipid tails wouldfloat up and form a layer on the surface of the water.

Their lipid tails would align within a spherical double layerwith their phosphate heads in the water inside and outside thesphere.

They would form a single-layered sphere with the phosphate headspointing outward and the lipid tails pointing inward.

Their lipid tails would adhere to the glass of the beaker andtheir phosphate heads would float in the water.

Question 4

While looking at a cell under a microscope, a scientist is ableto see a biological molecule. This molecule is a nucleic acid witha ladder structure and contains the nitrogenous bases adenine,thymine, cytosine, and guanine. Based on this information, whatconclusion can the scientist draw regarding this nucleicacid?.l.18.1>

The nucleic acid is RNA and would be found in the cellÃ¢â¬â¢snucleus.

The nucleic acid is RNA and would be found in the cytoplasm.

The nucleic acid is DNA and would be found in the cytoplasm.

The nucleic acid is DNA and would be found in the cellÃ¢â¬â¢snucleus.

Question 5

Which of the following is needed for cellular respiration tooccur?.l.18.8>

Sodium

Oxygen

Water

Nitrogen

Question 6

What would be the most likely effect if the side chain of an aminoacid group was unable to vary its structure?.l.18.4>

The organism would not be able to make and store starches.

The organism would not be able to process glucose moleculeseffectively.

The organism would not be able to regulate the creation ofspecialized cells.

The organism would not be able to make more than one type ofprotein.

Question 7

During photosynthesis, unused oxygen atoms form oxygen gas(O₂) which is released as a waste product. How did theseoxygen atoms originally enter the plant?.l.18.7>

They were part of the ATP molecules gathered by thechloroplasts.

They were part of the sugar molecules(C₆H₁₂O₆) the plant brought in forfood.

They were part of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) moleculesthat entered through the leaves.

They were part of the water molecules (H₂O) pulled inthrough the roots.

Question 8

Which of the following organelles houses DNA in eukaryoticcells?.l.14.3>

Endoplasmic reticulum

Golgi apparatus

Nucleus

Mitochondrium

Question 9

M. J. Schleiden shifted the scientific community's attention tocellular processes with his.l.14.1>

attention to disproving spontaneous generation

publication of ideas on cell generation

theories on the division of cells

claim that cells were the basic unit of all plant matter

Question 10

While the average human is able to hold his or her breath forapproximately one minute, a whale can dive for over 30 minuteswithout returning to the surface. Which of the following correctlydescribes this difference?.l.18.10>

Whales need less energy than humans.

Whales gather energy from their environment better thanhumans.

Whales are able to tolerate the products of cellular respirationbetter than humans.

Whales have a slower cellular respiration metabolism rate thanhumans.

Question 11

What can you conclude about the advantage of the cell membranehaving hydrophobic ends in the phospholipid bilayer?.l.18.3>

The cell requires the ability to digest and eliminateenzymes.

The cell requires a barrier between itself and itsenvironment.

The cell requires a means to store starches and glucose.

The cell requires a structure for eliminating waste.

Question 12

What would be the most likely outcome if the ribosomes of a cellwere damaged and stopped functioning?.l.14.3>

The cell would lose structure and shape.

Cell growth and repair would slow or stop.

Cell waste would no longer be processed.

The cell would produce more mitochondria.

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BIOL1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Biological Membrane, Cell Membrane, Micelle

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