BIOS 10161 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Cell Adhesion Molecule, Human Body, Endomembrane System

• School: ND
• Department: Biological Sciences
• Course: BIOS 10161
• Professor: Schulz, Robert

Document Summary

Made of many different compounds (mosaic) and can move freely (fluid) In this model: proteins are noncovalently embedded in the phospholipid bilayer by their hydrophobic regions, while their hydrophilic domains are exposed to the aqueous environment on either side of the bilayer. Function: recognize specific molecules, such as those on the surfaces of adjacent cells. Fluid mosaic model is good for the membrane structure but does not say as much about the composition. In terms of composition, lipids form the hydrophobic core of the membrane: lipids in membranes are usually phospholipids, which have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic sections. Hydrophilic: phosphorous containing head of the phospholipid is electrically charged and therefore hydrophilic. Associate with other nonpolar materials: these properties allow them to exist in the bilayer. Membranes from different cells or organelles may differ greatly in their lipid composition. Degree of unsaturation in the fatty acids.