BIO 327 Chapter Notes - Chapter 11: Glycocalyx, Hydrogen Bond, Oligosaccharide
Document Summary
Lipid bilayer- fundamental structure of all cell membranes. If there is a tear, the molecules will spontaneously rearrange to seal it. Phospholipids- have a phosphate containing head with a pair of hydrophobic tails. The closer and more regular packing of the tails, bilayer is more viscous and less fluid. Short chain length reduces the interaction of the tails, increasing fluidity. Unsaturated- has a double bond that creates a kink in the tail, making packing together harder. Cholesterol- short and rigid molecules, stiffens the bilayer and makes it less permeable. New phospholipids are made by enzymes of the er. Scramblases- enzymes that catalyze the transfer phospholipids from one half of the bilayer to the other half. Redistributes the newly made phospholipids equally to each monolayer. Flippases- remove specific phospholipids from the side of the bilayer facing the exterior space and flip them into the inside monolayer. Glycolipids are located in the monolayer that faces the exterior of the cell.
