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9 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is the cell membrane made up of?
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The cell membrane is made up of two phospholipid layers, called a bilayer.
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What is the phospholipid bilayer made of?
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Phosphate makes up one end of the molecule, causing that end to be hydrophilic (water loving).
The lipid tails make up the middle of the bilayer and are hydrophobic. |
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What does the bilayer look like in aqueous solution?
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The phosphate ends line up in contact with the water, while the lipid tails avoid the water.
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What is the point of the lipids?
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The lipids prevent large water soluble molecules from traveling through the cell.
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What is the Fluid Mosaic Model?
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The cell membrane is called a mosaic because it contains proteins scattered throughout the bilayer that are present for other cell membrane functions.
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Why is the cell membrane said to be fluid?
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The bilayer is fluid as individual lipids and some proteins can move freely about the cell membrane.
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What is the function of cholesterol?
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Cholesterol is present between the lipid tails of the phospholipid molecules and work to stabilise the membrane and also help to reduce permeation by water soluble molecules.
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What is the function of a carbohydrate side chain and where can you find it?
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Carbohydrate side chains allow cells to recognise each other, and helps to 'glue' cells together.
Carbohydrate side chains are found attached to glycoproteins scattered in the cell membrane. |
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What are micelles?
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When phospholipid molecules are dropped into aqueous solution, they form small balls of molecules with the lipid tails on the inside called micelles.
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