General Biology

Chapter 5 Outline

Explain or draw/label the structure of a phospholipid.

Describe what is meant by the term “fluid mosaic model” of a cell membrane.

The fluid mosaic model describes the cell membrane as a tapestry of several types
of molecules (phospholipids, cholesterols, and proteins) that are constantly
moving. This movement helps the cell membrane maintain its role as a barrier
between the inside and outside of the cell environments.

What does it mean when we say the cell membrane is “selectively permeable?”

The membrane is selectively permeable because substances do not cross it

indiscriminately. Some molecules, such as hydrocarbons and oxygen can cross the
membrane. Many large molecules (such as glucose and other sugars) cannot. Water
can pass through between the lipids. Ions such as H+ or Na+ cannot.

Provide 3 examples of transmembrane proteins and the function of each.

 General Biology
Chapter 5 Outline

1) a single transmembrane α-helix (biopic membrane protein). 2) a polytopic

transmembrane α-helical protein. 3) a polytopic transmembrane β-sheet protein.

Provide 2 examples of interior protein networks and the function of each.

The main difference between animal and plant proteins is their amino acid profile.
Most animal proteins are complete proteins, meaning they contain all 9 of the
essential amino acids (EAAs). Most plant proteins are considered incomplete
proteins, meaning they are missing at least one essential amino acid. However,
eating multiple plant proteins together can create the effect of complete proteins.

Provide 2 examples of cell-surface markers and the function of each.

Cell surface markers are used to classify cells according to their markers. This
data, in turn, is used to identify different kinds of cells, from cancer cells to stem
cells to cells infected with HIV.

How is freeze-fracturing important to visualize membranes?

Freeze fracturing is a process where a frozen specimen is cracked to reveal a plane

through the tissue. The fracture occurs along weak hydrophobic planes such as
membranes or surfaces of organelles. The technique is extremely powerful when
applied to the study of membrane structure and organization.

In your own words, explain how phospholipids spontaneously form bilayers.

Phospholipids assemble into bilayers spontaneously when introduced into aqueous

environments. Their assembly is driven by the hydrophobic effect such that the
lipids spontaneously arrange themselves in a manner that minimizes the
hydrophobic surface area that is exposed to water.
 General Biology
Chapter 5 Outline

Identify and explain the functions of the 6 types of plasma membrane proteins.

 Enzymatic functions. All enzymes are a type of protein.

 Transportation. Membrane proteins can allow hydrophilic molecules to pass
through the cell membrane.
 Signal transduction. Some membrane proteins can feature a binding site.
 Cell recognition.
 Intercellular joining.
 Attachment.

In your own words, explain diffusion.

diffusion, process resulting from random motion of molecules by which there is a

net flow of matter from a region of high concentration to a region of low
concentration. A familiar example is the perfume of a flower that quickly
permeates the still air of a room.

In your own words, explain osmosis.

Osmosis is the scientific process of transferring fluid between molecules. When

molecules move in and out of a cell to achieve the same concentration of
something, like salt, on both sides, then osmosis is happening.

Osmosis and diffusion are often identified from one another incorrectly. Explain
the difference between these two processes.

Osmosis only allows solvent molecules to move freely, but diffusion allows both
solvent and solute molecules to move freely. 4. Osmosis happens when molecules
move from higher to lower concentrations, but diffusion happens when it is
reversed.

What is facilitated diffusion?

 General Biology
Chapter 5 Outline

Facilitated diffusion is the transport of substances across a biological membrane

from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

What are ion channels and why are they important in cell membranes?

Ion channels are protein molecules that span across the cell membrane allowing the
passage of ions from one side of the membrane to the other. They have an aqueous
pore, which becomes accessible to ions after a conformational change in the
protein structure that causes the ion channel to open.

Explain the three following terms and their relationship with diffusion: hypertonic,
hypotonic, and isotonic.

In comparing two solutions of unequal solute concentration, the solution with the
higher solute concentration is hypertonic, and the solution with the lower solute
concentration is hypotonic. Solutions of equal solute concentration are isotonic.
The first sugar solution is hypotonic to the second solution. The second sugar
solution is hypertonic to the first.

What is turgor pressure and explain how you can see its effect in a house plant.

turgor, Pressure exerted by fluid in a cell that presses the cell membrane against the
cell wall. Turgor is what makes living plant tissue rigid. Loss of turgor, resulting
from the loss of water from plant cells, causes flowers and leaves to wilt.

What is active transport and how is it different than diffusion?

Diffusion and active transport are two methods of transporting molecules across
the cell membrane. Diffusion is a passive process, but active transport requires
metabolic energy or an electrochemical gradient for the transportation of molecules
across the membrane.

What is the sodium-potassium pump? Why is ATP important for these proteins?
 General Biology
Chapter 5 Outline

The sodium-potassium pump is an important contributor to action potential

produced by nerve cells. This pump is called a P-type ion pump because the ATP
interactions phosphorylates the transport protein and causes a change in its
conformation.

Explain what the following terms are and how they are different: phagocytosis and
pinocytosis.

The pinocytosis (drinking) and phagocytosis (engulfment) are the two main
process of endocytosis: Pinocytosis occurs through nonspecific endocytosis
mechanism, and phagocytosis occurs by the specific endocytosis mechanism. The
internalization of solids is occurred through the endocytosis process.

What are two examples of exocytosis?

Examples of exocytosis include Transportation of glucagon from the pancreas into

the liver where it is further processed for easier absorption into the blood stream.
Transportation of protein-filled vesicles from T cells to viral infected cells.