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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the hydrophobic tails in phospholipids?
What is the primary function of the hydrophobic tails in phospholipids?
Which type of substances can dissolve in the hydrophobic lipid bilayer of the cell membrane?
Which type of substances can dissolve in the hydrophobic lipid bilayer of the cell membrane?
What is the primary function of integral proteins in the cell membrane?
What is the primary function of integral proteins in the cell membrane?
How are peripheral proteins attached to the cell membrane?
How are peripheral proteins attached to the cell membrane?
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What type of proteins can include ion channels, transport proteins, and receptors?
What type of proteins can include ion channels, transport proteins, and receptors?
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Study Notes
Phospholipid Structure and Function
- Phospholipids have a hydrophilic (water-soluble) glycerol backbone and two hydrophobic (water-insoluble) fatty acid tails.
- The hydrophobic tails face each other and form a bilayer.
Cellular Transport
- Lipid-soluble substances (e.g., O2, CO2, steroid hormones) can cross cell membranes because they can dissolve in the hydrophobic lipid bilayer.
- Water-soluble substances (e.g., Na+, Cl−, glucose, H2O) cannot dissolve in the lipid of the membrane.
Cell Membrane Components
- Integral proteins are anchored to, and embedded in, the cell membrane through hydrophobic interactions.
- Integral proteins may span the cell membrane and include ion channels, transport proteins, receptors, and GTP-binding proteins (G proteins).
- Peripheral proteins are not embedded in the cell membrane and are not covalently bound to membrane components.
- Peripheral proteins are loosely attached to the cell membrane by electrostatic interactions.
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Description
Learn about the structure and function of phospholipids and cell membranes, including how they regulate the transport of different substances.
