BIO 327 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Adsorption, Photon, Oligosaccharide
Document Summary
Membrane consists of two-ply sheet of lipid molecules into which proteins have been inserted. Barrier to prevent contents of cell from escaping and mixing with the surrounding medium. Free edges will expose the bilayer therefore any free edge will immediately be eliminated: either by repair or by the sheet folding up on itself. Provide cells with control over how and where they interact with their environments: receiving info. Import/export of molecules: capacity for movement and expansion. Membranes act like enzymes in promoting processes. Allow storage, concentration, and organization of proteins and other cellular components (ions, sugars) Fluidity and flexibility important for membrane function: this depends on phospholipid composition and nature of the hydrocarbon tails, enables membrane proteins to diffuse rapidly and to interact with one another. Two major properties of hydrocarbon tails affect how tightly they pack: length. Shorter chain length reduces tendency of hydrocarbon tails to interact with one another and increase the fluidity of the bilayer.
