key points of cell membranes
1. Glycolipids provide energy
2. lipid anchors long chain fatty acids and a cholesterol intermediate; can be used to recruit proteins to, or detach proteins from
the membrane
3. fatty acids 1) components of membrane lipids
are 2)two lcFAs per membrane lipid
important as 3) size and shape of the lcFAs are critical
4. cellular membranes 1) compartmentalize cells and organelles
2)bilayer nature is determined by the shape and amphiphilicity of their constituent lipids
3) Comprise multiple lipids (mainly glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol) arranged asymmetrically
4) Most lipids are free to flex, rotate and diffuse laterally within each leaflet = fluid
5)membrane proteins form a mosaic in the bilayer
6) the fluid mosaic model needs updating
7)Lipid rafts are specialised domains within the membrane that limit this lateral diffusion and permit
clustering of lipids and proteins with shared function
5. cholesterol 1) a structural component of cellular membranes
is 2)It modulates the fluidity of the membrane
important 3) A precursor of Steroids, vitamin D and Bile Salts
6. membrane proteins 1) Can be lipid anchored (reversible)
2)Most integral membrane proteins traverse the membrane via a α-helices (eukaryotic cells)
3)Some can diffuse within the membrane, others are fixed by interaction with the ECM or cytoskeleton
1. Glycolipids provide energy
2. lipid anchors long chain fatty acids and a cholesterol intermediate; can be used to recruit proteins to, or detach proteins from
the membrane
3. fatty acids 1) components of membrane lipids
are 2)two lcFAs per membrane lipid
important as 3) size and shape of the lcFAs are critical
4. cellular membranes 1) compartmentalize cells and organelles
2)bilayer nature is determined by the shape and amphiphilicity of their constituent lipids
3) Comprise multiple lipids (mainly glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol) arranged asymmetrically
4) Most lipids are free to flex, rotate and diffuse laterally within each leaflet = fluid
5)membrane proteins form a mosaic in the bilayer
6) the fluid mosaic model needs updating
7)Lipid rafts are specialised domains within the membrane that limit this lateral diffusion and permit
clustering of lipids and proteins with shared function
5. cholesterol 1) a structural component of cellular membranes
is 2)It modulates the fluidity of the membrane
important 3) A precursor of Steroids, vitamin D and Bile Salts
6. membrane proteins 1) Can be lipid anchored (reversible)
2)Most integral membrane proteins traverse the membrane via a α-helices (eukaryotic cells)
3)Some can diffuse within the membrane, others are fixed by interaction with the ECM or cytoskeleton
