Going into the detail of Membrane structure and synthesis of a cell, looking at lipid composition, factors that affect the cells fluidity, types of fluidity all in key short understandable points.
● Cell has many different membranes, with various functions.
● Membranes are made from bilayers, phospholipids
● Biological membranes are composed of a lipid bilayer
● The majority of the lipids are phospholipids
● Phospholipids have a hydrophilic head group and a
hydrophobic tail
● Non-covalent assemblies
● Inositol is very important in cell signaling.
● Cholesterol is a large black molecule which is usually
evenly distributed through the membrane. Function;
Membrane stability
● Glycolipids are significant for cell recognition &
membrane stability.
● The hydrophilic head is exposed to the exoplasmic &
the cytosolic side of the cell because they are energetically
favourable.
Factors that affect fluidity
● Temperature; as it rises the energy that the molecules increase & they will move apart.
Mammals have a wide range of temperatures that we can operate at.
● Fatty acid composition; if saturated, then molecules can be really compact but if
unsaturated, then they can’t be packed close together so have more fluidity. Length of fatty
acid have influence on fluidity on membrane, the longer the molecule the greater the
opportunity of interactions [weak bonds]
● Cholesterol content associated with temperatures;
○ At low temperatures; the membrane is very compact so rigid. If cholesterol added,
then it interacts with the phospholipids & increases membrane fluidity.
○ At high temperatures; the membrane is very fluid and widely spaced. If cholesterol
added, then it maintain membrane stability and reduces membrane fluidity.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller tbhavana. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.07. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
