Plasma and Phospholipid Membrane

phospholipid composition/function, plasma membrane composition/function, glycoprotein/gylcolipid

Phospholipid Bilayer

a type of lipid bilayer consisting of hydrophilic/hydrophobic phospholipid molecules that make up the boundary of a cell

Plasma Membrane

a selective barrier that separates the cell's contents from its environment (4 parts)

4 Components of Plasma Membrane

1. Phospholipid bilayer

2. Integral proteins

3. Peripheral proteins

4. Cell surface markers (glycoproteins, glycolipids)

Glycoprotein

protein w/ carbohydrate chains attached

Glycolipid

lipid w/ carbohydrate chain attached

Phospholipid Function:

• amphipathic structure + aqueous environment = spontaneous formation of bilayers

• forms vesicle barrier and plasma membrane

Phospholipid

a fat molecule w/ glycerol, a hydrophilic head, and and 2 hydrophobic tails

Phospholipid Head

a hydrophilic phosphate group

Phospholipid Tails

2 hydrophobic fatty acid chains

Amphipathic/Amphiphilic

compound w/ hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions