Chapter 7 World of the Cell

Functions of membranes

determine the boundaries of the cell, nucleus, and organelles; acts as a permeability barrie, serve as sites for specific biochemical functions, possess transport proteins that regulate the movement of substances into and out of the cell and organelles, c

What are types of biochemical functions where membrane serves as a site for them?

electron transport during mitochondrial respiration or protein processing and folding in the ER

Plasma membrane

a membrane that surrounds the cell and regulates the passage of materials both into and out of the cell

How does the plasma membrane work?

the hydrophobic interior of the phospholipid bilayer blocks the passage of polar molecules and ions

Intracellular membranes

serve to compartmentalize functions within eukaryotic cells

Why are membranes function specific?

proteins are embedded in or localized on membranes

What is one of the most useful ways to characterize a specific membrane?

Describe the particular enzymes, transport proteins, receptors, and molecules associated with it

What is an example of membrane specificity?

The plasma membrane of plant, fungal, bacterial, and archael cells contains the enzymes that synthesize cell walls

What kind of cell membrane specificity applies to neuronal cells?

ion transporters that are essential for proper signal transmission to muscles

...

...