Homework Two.

Names: Edgar Pantoja ,Daniela Pazmino \\

Date: 3/3/2024

Answer the following questions based on the Singer and Nicolson model article:

1- How do membranes exist, in which states?

Membranes can exist in different states or phases, those are present in a condensed state and

challenge the idea that all biochemical reactions take place in watery solutions. Membranes

are concentrated in environments where biochemical reactions for life occur. This site makes

way for a variety of essential cellular processes, such as protein synthesis, cell signaling, and

nutrient transport. The precise arrangement of lipids and proteins in membranes facilitates the

organization and efficiency of these reactions.

2- What is the purpose of this review?

This review provides a discussion of the Singer-Nicolson model and its implications.. It

covers various aspects of membrane structure and behavior .The goal is to explore recent

ideas and discoveries in this area, including the elevated concentration of proteins within the

bilayer, interactions between proteins and the membrane, structures that are not arranged in

layers, variations in composition across the membrane, and movement of lipids across the

bilayer.

3- How did Singer and Nicolson see the model?

They saw the model like a Tesellae Roman Mosaic composed principally of lipids (organized

in a bilayer) and proteins (which can be in one side of the bilayer or piercing the Bilayer) and

They proposed that those molecules are in constant motion like moving in the plane of the

membrane or rotating in one side of the Bilayer.

4- Say evidence for the bilayer?

According to the article one form to show that cells have a Bi-layer membrane is drying

lipids and then adding water, it will form spontaneously a Bilayer structure called Liposomes

in the liquid.This phenomenon has been confirmed through experiments involving the

formation of liposomes, where dry lipids mixed with water naturally self-organize into

bilayers.

5- How can membrane proteins be associated?

They can be associated in the two parts of the phospholipid:

Polar part/Hydrophilic part are associated by peripheric proteins.

Hydrophobic part is associated by integral proteins.

6- In the model, which molecules can be in constant motion?

In the Singer-Nicolson model, both lipids and proteins (phospholipids) are in constant

motion.

7- What types of movements occur in this model?

Three movements principally:

Flip-flop/ Trans bilayer: This process involves the flip-flopping of lipids from one layer of

the membrane to the other, crossing the hydrophobic core. In theory is possible but the energy

required is too high making almost rare to see without enzymes.

Rotational: This involves the rotation of lipids and proteins around an axis perpendicular to

the membrane plane.

Translational (Lateral) Diffusion: : This type of movement allows lipids and proteins to move

along the plane of the membrane.

8- What do you mean by FLUIDITY?

Fluidity is the movement of molecules in the cell membrane, refers to the collective

molecular motions within the membrane.This term includes various movements of lipids and

proteins within the membrane structure. It includes the phospholipids and integral or

peripherical proteins.

9- What is an amphitropic protein?

Those proteins are which can be associated or not in the membrane cells. An amphitropic

protein is a term introduced to describe a broad category of proteins that can reversibly

associate with membranes under specific physiological conditions