Plasma and Phospholipid Membrane

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

Phospholipid Membrane

a type of lipid bilayer consisting of amphiphilic phospholipid molecules that make up the boundary of a cell

Plasma Membrane

a selective barrier w/ 4 components that separates the cell's contents from its environment

4 Components of Plasma Membrane

1. Phospholipid bilayer

2. Transmembrane proteins

3. Peripheral membrane proteins

4. Cell surface markers (glycoproteins, glycolipids)

Glycoprotein

protein w/ carbohydrate chains attached

Glycolipid

lipid w/ carbohydrate chain attached

Phospholipid Composition

• glycerol, 2 non-polar fatty acids (tails)

• 1 polar phosphate group (head)

Phospholipid Function:

• amphipathic structure + aqueous environment = spontaneous formation of bilayers

• self-assembles into vesicles

• binds cells

Phospholipid

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

Phospholipid Head

a hydrophilic phosphate group

Phospholipid Tails

2 hydrophobic fatty acid chains