Membrane Structure

Phospholipids

Hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail

• Weak hydrophobic interactions hold them

• Creates bilayers keeping water inside / outside

  • most abundant part of membrane

fluidity

? of phospholipids depend on temperature

• cool: saturated / not

• hot: unsaturated / is

Integral Proteins

proteins that integrate through the whole membrane bilayer

Peripheral Proteins

proteins that line the outer or inner side of the membrane

Transporter Proteins

Proteins that bring things in and out of the cell

• channel

• carrier

Receptor Proteins

Proteins that respond when something binds to it

• signal transduction pathway

Enzyme Proteins

Proteins right on the surface of a cell, catalyzing reactions

Anchor Proteins

Proteins that stick cells to each other or other things

Steroids

Embedded into bits of cell membrane

• cholesterol separates phospholipids preventing them from becoming one massive block

Glycoproteins

Proteins with carbohydrates attached

• cell-to-cell recognition: distinguish neighboring cells from each other

Glycolipids

Lipids with carbohydrates attached

• cell-to-cell recognition: distinguish neighboring cells from each other

  • least abundant part of membrane