Structure of phospholipid membrane
Glycerol backbone = hydrophilic
2 fatty acid tails = hydrophobic
Substances that are soluble across the lipid bilayer
Lipid-soluble substances (O2, CO2, steroid hormones)
Substances that are NOT soluble across the lipid bilayer
Water-soluble substances (H2O, Na, Cl, glucose)
Integral proteins
Anchored in the membrane via hydrophobic interactions
Peripheral proteins
NOT embedded within the membrane; NOT covalently bound to the membrane - instead interact loosely with electrostatic interactions
Tight junctions
aka zona occludens; attachments between cells
Two types of tight junctions
2. leaky (permeable)
Gap junctions
the attachments between cells that permit intercellular communication
Characteristics of simple diffusion
Diffusion equation
J = -PA(C1 - C2)
*the minus sign indicates the direction of flow is from high to low concentration
Permeability (P)
The ease with which a solute diffuses through a membrane; depends on characteristics of both the solute and the membrane
Factors that increase permeability
Features of solutes with the highest permeability in lipid membranes
2. hydrophobic/lipophilic
Two types of carrier mediated transport
2. primary and secondary active transport
Facilitated diffusion
Diffusion down a gradient, just via a transporter
Three general characteristics of carrier-mediated transport
Characteristics of facilitated diffusion
Example of facilitated diffusion
glucose transport in muscle and adipose tissue
Characteristics of primary active transpot
2. requires direct input of metabolic energy in the form of ATP
Examples of primary active transport
Specific inhibitors of Na-K-ATPase
Cardiac glycoside drugs:
Location of the calcium pump
Location of the proton pump
2. renal alpha-intercalated cells
Characteristics of secondary active transport