Membrane

function of the CFTR gene provides instructions for making a protein channel called the cystic fibrosis transmembrane. This protein channel transports chloride ions across the semipermeable membrane of cells that produce mucus, tears, sweat, saliva, and digestive enzymes. Due to osmosis, water will pass through the membrane from low concentrations of chloride, to high concentrations. Controlling the movement of water in tissues is necessary for the production of thin, free flowing mucus.…

Sarah Diaz Dr. Basu Bio 572 My Favorite gene One of my favorite genes that I have had the pleasure of working with is known as PROMININ-1, or PROM-1. One of the reasons why it exists as my favorite gene, is because the research lab that I am interning at studies this gene and its role in a very well known and unfortunate disease, biliary atresia. It also is one my favorites due to the fact that it has a lot of potential applications in studying other diseases or further research. These…

lipoproteins, viral pathogens interact with the lipid composition of a membrane to gain entry into a cell. They can gain entry by interacting directly with the lipid component or with the other components usually glycosphingolipids and using them as a receptor.1 Other viruses require a specific lipid composition such as lipid rafts that are rich in cholesterol and take advantage of the clustering of receptors there.1 Attachment to the lipid membrane is advantageous to the virus as endocytosis…

Within the human body, the natural process of moving soluble molecules across a membrane is referred to as passive transport. For this type of transport chemical energy is not necessary. Two of the main types of passive transport that the human body utilizes are osmosis and diffusion. Diffusion is the movement of a hydrophobic substance across a semi-permeable membrane without the use of cell energy from a gradient area of higher concentration to an area (either inside or outside of the cell)…

fold. This fold contains helices encasing a small water-conducting channel where water is able to arrange in a singular line. There are cytoplasmic and extracellular loops immersing into the membrane through opposing sides, and form two smaller helices creating a psedo transmembrane segment. Within the membrane, there are four aquaporin molecules forming a homo-tetramer, creating a fifth channel; the channel is mainly hydrophobic. However, they are some structural differences, as well as…

The sodium-potassium pumps is a plasma membrane transport protein and serve to push an ion into a cell against its concentration gradient. This type of action is known as active transport because it needs the energy to be able to move the ions against their concentration gradient. Generally, the solutes being pushed in or out of a cell will go from a low concentration gradient to a high concentration gradient. The sodium-potassium pump is crucial to kidney function, nerve signaling, and heart…

the cell balances equally creating a stable environment. This is an important factor for living things because if there isn’t a stable environment this would have a negative effect on the body. A plasma membrane is important to this process it lets things in and out of the cell, the plasma membrane is selectively permeable which means that it only allows certain things inside and outside the cell. Diffusion releases molecules from high concentration to a low concentration, osmosis is another…

organisms.” This is compared to the internal skeleton strucutre of Eukaryotes, where “it is formed by a complex of protein tubules called the cytoskeleton.” (K S Kabnick and D A Peattie, 1991.) This difference in structure gives a pliable membrane to the cell rather than a rigid cell wall. This increases mobility of many Eukaryotes which is essential for the specific function within organisms, for instance, muscles cells need to have the mobility to enable them to contract.…

containing Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), tris buffer, lysozyme, and sucrose. Inner membranes of Gram-negative bacteria can be uncovered by using a mixture of lysozyme and EDTA, which causes the outer membrane to break down (Thein et al., 2010), liberating the periplasmic contents. The sucrose was used to maintain an isotonic solution to prevent lysis of the sphaeroplasts, which are simply cytoplasmic membrane bound cells. The sphaeroplasts were then spun down using centrifugation, and…

contains a plasma membrane called the sarcolemma, covering the outer surface of the cell (Ivy Rose). The sarcolemma protects the muscle cell and allows for its shape to be kept. From the sarcolemma, tunnel-like extensions called transverse tubules pass through the muscle fiber (Ivy Rose). These transverse tubules connect the sarcoplasmic reticulum with the sarcolemma (Graham and Parker 117). The sarcoplasmic reticulum is a type of smooth endoplasmic reticulum that is formed by many…