18 Questions
What is the main component of the cortex in human red blood cells?
Spectrin
What is the main function of the cortex in red blood cells?
To provide mechanical strength as they are pumped through blood vessels
What is the main characteristic of lipids in terms of solubility?
They are more soluble in organic solvents than in water
What is the function of the attachment proteins in the cortex of red blood cells?
To bind to transmembrane proteins
What is the primary function of the cell cortex in animal cells?
To maintain the cell's shape and mechanical properties
What is unique about the cortex of other cells compared to red blood cells?
It is more complex and has additional functions
What is the main component of the cortex of human red blood cells?
Spectrin dimers
What is the role of actin in the cortex of red blood cells?
It forms a mesh with spectrin
What is the main function of the spectrin network in red blood cells?
To maintain the cell's shape and stability
What is the purpose of transmembrane proteins in the plasma membrane?
To attach the cell cortex to the plasma membrane
What is the primary function of the cell wall in plants, yeasts, and bacteria?
To maintain the cell's shape and mechanical properties
What is the thickness of a single cell membrane relative to the thickness of a sheet of paper?
It is 10,000 times thinner
What is the function of the plasma membrane in relation to the cortex?
It is attached to the cortex by attachment proteins
What is the result of genetic alterations that affect the structure of spectrin in mice and humans?
Anemia and production of spherical, fragile red blood cells
What is the primary component of the cortex in most animal cells?
Actin
What is the function of the attachment proteins in the spectrin network?
To link spectrin to specific transmembrane proteins
What is the shape of the red blood cells in individuals with an abnormal spectrin structure?
Spherical
What is the main component of the meshwork in the cortex of red blood cells?
Spectrin tetramers
Explore the structure and functions of the cell cortex, including its composition and role in mechanical strength, selective uptake of materials, shape change, and movement. Learn how cells utilize their cortex to restrain diffusion and more.
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