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Cell Membrane and Trasnport p1
Cell Membrane and Trasnport p1
Cell Membrane and Trasnport p1
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A phospholipid monolayer
If phospholipids are mixed/shaken with water they form spheres with the hydrophilic phosphate heads
facing out towards the water and the hydrophobic fatty acid tails facing in towards each other
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Your notes
A micelle
Alternatively, two-layered structures may form in sheets
These are called phospholipid bilayers – this is the basic structure of the cell membrane
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A phospholipid bilayer is composed of two layers of phospholipids; their hydrophobic tails facing
inwards and hydrophilic heads outwards
Phospholipid bilayers can form compartments – the bilayer forming the cell surface membrane
establishing the boundary of each cell
Internally, membrane-bound compartments formed from phospholipid bilayers provide the basic
structure of organelles, allowing for specialisation of processes within the cell
An example of a membrane-bound organelle is the lysosome (found in animal cells), each containing
many hydrolytic enzymes that can break down many different kinds of biomolecule
These enzymes need to be kept compartmentalised otherwise they would breakdown most of the
cellular components
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Membranes formed from phospholipid bilayers help to compartmentalise different regions of the cell
Structure of membranes
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The phospholipid bilayers that make up cell membranes also contain proteins
The proteins can either be intrinsic (or integral) or extrinsic (peripheral)
Intrinsic proteins are embedded in the membrane with their arrangement determined by their Your notes
hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions
Extrinsic proteins are found on the outer or inner surface of the membrane
The fluid mosaic model describes cell membranes as ‘fluid’ because:
The phospholipids and proteins can move around via diffusion
The phospholipids mainly move sideways, within their own layers
The many different types of proteins interspersed throughout the bilayer move about within it (a bit
like icebergs in the sea) although some may be fixed in position
The fluid mosaic model describes cell membranes as ‘mosaics’ because:
The scattered pattern produced by the proteins within the phospholipid bilayer looks somewhat
like a mosaic when viewed from above
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The distribution of the proteins within the membrane gives a mosaic appearance and the structure of
proteins determines their position in the membrane
Your notes
Exam Tip
You must know how to draw and label the fluid mosaic model, as well as ensure that you can describe
why the membrane is called the fluid mosaic model.
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Proteins
Transport proteins create hydrophilic channels to allow ions and polar molecules to travel through Your notes
the membrane. There are two types:
channel (pore) proteins
carrier proteins
Each transport protein is specific to a particular ion or molecule
Transport proteins allow the cell to control which substances enter or leave
Exam Tip
Membranes become less fluid when there is:
An increased proportion of saturated fatty acid chains as the chains pack together tightly and
therefore there is a high number of intermolecular forces between the chains
A lower temperature as the molecules have less energy and therefore are not moving as freely
which causes the structure to be more closely packed
Membranes become more fluid when there is:
An increased proportion of unsaturated fatty acid chains as these chains are bent, which means
the chains are less tightly packed together and there are less intermolecular forces
At higher temperatures, the molecules have more energy and therefore move more freely, which
increasing membrane fluidity
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