Student Unit 3.4 Cell Membranes, Surfaces and Junctions
Student Unit 3.4 Cell Membranes, Surfaces and Junctions
Student Unit 3.4 Cell Membranes, Surfaces and Junctions
4:
macromolecules
1.
2.
3.
1. Membrane Lipids
1. Phospholipids
- The most abundant lipids
in membranes
– Amphipathic molecules
2. Cholesterol
– found in animal cell
membranes
– maintains membrane
fluidity
2. Membrane carbohydrates
• Branched ……………………………
Polymers of fewer than 15 sugar units
Restricted to exterior surface of plasma membrane
Two types:
…………………: oligosaccharides covalently bonded to lipids
………………………: oligosaccharides covalently bonded to
Exterior surface
proteins (more common)
Glycolipids
Interior surface
Glycoproteins
What is the function of
membrane carbohydrates?
• Cell-cell recognition: the ability of a cell to
distinguish one type of neighboring cell from
another
Important in cell sorting and organization as tissues
and organs differentiate during development
The basis for rejection of foreign cells by the
immune system
An example is RBC grouping (A, B , AB or O)
RBCs grouping is based on their plasma
membrane glycolipids
O type A type
B type AB
type
3. Membrane Proteins
1. Peripheral proteins
are not embedded in
the lipid bilayer at all.
– Bound to surface
2. Integral proteins
penetrate the
hydrophobic core of
the lipid bilayer
(transmembrane
protein)
What is the function of membrane
proteins?
• Transport
Hydrophilic channels
ATP
Changing shape of protein
Enzymes
• Enzymatic activity
Carry out steps of a metabolic pathway
• Cell-cell recognition
Glyco-
Some glycoproteins serve as identification protein
Tags.
• Intercellular joining
Hook cells by various kinds of junctions
Example: gap or tight junctions
• Attachment
Binding cytoskeleton and ECM
Where are the components of the plasma
membrane synthesized?
• Support
Protection of body cells
• Adhesion to surfaces
• Movement of chemical molecules and food
particles
• Regulation
How do changes in the external environment lead
to changes in gene expression?
Cell communication via integrins
What are the functions of the ECM?
• Support
Protection of body cells
• Adhesion to surfaces
• Movement of chemical molecules and food
particles
• Regulation
How do changes in the external environment lead
to changes in gene expression?
Cell communication via integrins
How do cells connect and communicate
with each other?
Intracellular junctions
• ……………… have:
Tight junction
Desmosomes
Gap junctions
• ……………… have:
Plasmodesmata
How do cells connect and communicate
with each other?
Intracellular junctions
of animal cells:
• All junctions are
commonly found in
epithelial tissues
Epithelial tissue:
specialized group of
cells that line the
internal surface of
body
Intracellular junctions
• Tight junction (animals):
membranes of neighboring
cells are tightly pressed
against each other
prevents the leakage of
extracellular fluid across a
layer of epithelial cells
• Desmosomes (animals):
anchoring junctions
keratin proteins- fastening the
cell
Intracellular junctions
• Gap junctions (animals):
communicating junctions
special membrane proteins
surround a pore through which
ions, sugars, amino acids and
other small molecules may
pass
• Plasmodesmata (plants):
allows communication
between plant cells
Fun Fact
• Proteins called connexins form the building
blocks of gap junctions.
Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.
Alternative Proxies: