Biochemistry Exam Review - Lipids and Cell Membranes

These flashcards cover key concepts related to lipids, cell membranes, and transport mechanisms, as discussed in the biochemistry lecture notes.

Fatty acids

An important feature of all lipids, representing long, elongated molecules that are amphipathic.

Saturated fatty acids

Fatty acids that do not have a C=C double bond within their hydrocarbon tails.

Amphipathic molecule

A molecule that has both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts.

Cholesterol

A type of lipid that is different from phospholipids, having no polar head and containing cyclohexane rings.

Trans fatty acids

Fats that allow for tighter packing and contribute to lower membrane fluidity compared to cis fatty acids.

Phospholipids

Molecules that make up biological membranes, characterized by polar heads and long hydrophobic fatty acid tails.

Lipid rafts

Structured regions on cell membranes formed by the tendency of certain lipids and proteins to associate with each other.

Aquaporins

Membrane proteins that facilitate the transport of water across biological membranes.

Active transport

The movement of substances across a membrane against their concentration gradient, requiring energy input.

Facilitated diffusion

The process by which substances cross membranes with the help of transport proteins, driven by their concentration gradient.

Integral proteins

Membrane proteins that span across the hydrophobic region of the membrane, typically having long α-helices.

Fluid mosaic model

A widely accepted model describing the properties of biological membranes, emphasizing their fluid nature.

Peripheral proteins

Proteins associated with biological membranes through interactions with the polar heads of phospholipids.

Proton translocation in mitochondria

The movement of protons across the mitochondrial membrane during electron transport, supporting ATP production.

NADH oxidation

The process through which electrons are derived from NADH, contributing to the function of the electron transport chain.