BIO 122 LECTURE 2: MEMBRANE PHYSIOLOGY

J4R4FFE

CELL MEMBRANE STRUCTURE

1.
2.
3.
4.

Cell-surface markers glycoproteins that identify cell

type
Receptor proteins recognize and bind to substances
outside the cell
Enzymes assist chemical reactions inside the cell
Transport proteins help substances move across the cell
membrane

Amphipathic
phospholipid heads = hydrophilic
phospholipid tails = hydrophobic
Fluid Mosaic Model (Singer & Nicolson)
fluid = lipid bilayer
mosaic = integrated proteins and other molecules

MEMBRANE LIPIDS
1.

Phospholipids

Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)

Phosphatidylcholine (PC)

second most abundant

most abundant

key component of membrane

bilayers
derived from glycerol

key component of membrane

bilayers
derived from glycerol
precursor of sphingomyelin and
PS

phospholipids of CNS

membrane fusion, fission;

modulates membrane curvature;
stabilizes membrane protein
conformations

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

primary phosphate circulating the

plasma; integral component of
lipoproteins
transporters of chol:
HDL = good lipids; promotes
uptake in storage sites; tanggal
chol from blood
LDL = bad chol; transport chol
to diff. cells

Cholesterol
steroid rings
interact with and partly immobilize the upper regions of the
HC chains less deformable, less fluid, less permeable to
water-soluble molecules
interferes with close packing/solidification of fatty acid
tails (lower regions)
Glycolipids
asymmetrically distributed in CM
derived from sphingosine
cell-surface markers = for cell-to-cell recognition; e.g.
blood types and recognition of foreign bodies
MEMBRANE FLUIDITY
Mobility
a. Lateral Mobility
b. Flip Flop
Saturation
a. Unsaturated HC chains with cis-double bonds
b. Saturated HC chains
Presence of cholesterol within membrane

Phosphatidylserine (PS)
most abundant negatively charged
phospholipid in eukaryotic
membrane
derived from glycerol

Shingomyelin (SM)
most abundant sphingolipid
important component of myelin
sheath
derived from sphingosine

precursor for other phospholipids

maintained by flippase at inner
side of CM

with long and saturated

hydrocarbon tails = closely packed
+ more compact lipid rafts

blood coagulation, regulation of

apoptosis

associated with lipid rafts involved

in membrane sorting and
trafficking, signal transduction and
cell polarization

14. MEMBRANE PROTEINS

15.
1. Integral Proteins
functional on both sides of bilayer
for transport of molecules
transmembrane proteins: channels, carriers (undergo
conformational change), receptors
2. Peripheral Proteins
attached to the surface membrane
enzymes
3. Glycoproteins
protein-(covalent bond)-CHO
16.
17. MEMBRANE FUNCTONS
18.
1. barrier and selection
2. controlled transport
3. signal transduction
4. enzymatic reactions
5. cell-to-cell communication
6. cytoskeleton anchor
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.

27. MEMBRANE TRANSPORT

28.
1. Passive Transport
a. Simple Diffusion
i.
through lipid bilayer
lipid-soluble (O2, CO2, N2, alcohol)
high lipid solubility, fastest diffusion
ii.
through protein pore channels
lipid-insoluble (water, ions)
o Semi-permeable
size of channel
electrical charge of channel
o Gated

Voltage-gating
Na+ gate closed = (-); open = less (-)
K+ gate closed = less (+); open = more (+)

Chemical-gating
opens when a ligand binds with the protein
Ach channel, nerve-to-nerve, nerve-to-muscle
b. Facilitated Diffusion
carrier-mediated diffusion
glucose, amino acids
29.
o Rate factors
lipid solubility
molecular size
cell membrane thickness
concentration gradient
membrane surface area
composition of lipid layer
o Gibbs-Donnan Equilibrium
equilibrium where permeating charged ions are
asymmetrically distributed across the membrane due to
the presence of charged nonpermeating solutes
uneven electric charge
o Osmosis
net movement of water caused by difference in
concentration of water
permeating water, nonpermeating NaCl, selectively
permeable membrane
o Osmotic pressure
difference in hydraulic pressures of a solution and water
which must be overcome to prevent entry of water into
the solution across the membrane
o Osmolarity
osmoles per liter (particles/L of solution)
total concentration of solute particles in a solution
regardless of their chemical composition
determining factor for the diffusional movement of
water
molarity (mol/L) x no. of particles in a solution
o Osmolality
osmoles per kg of water (particles/kg of water)
o Osmoticity

Isoosmotic 300 mOsM/L of solute

Hyperosmotic > 300 mOsM/L of solute

Hypoosmotic < 300 mOsM/L of solute

*300 mOsM = normal osmolarity of the human body
o Tonicity
describes solutions that tell what would happen to cell
size/volume changes when placed in the solution
depends on nature of solutes (not just osmolarity = vs.
osmoticity) and permeability of membrane

Isotonic 300 mOsM of nonpenetrating solutes

Hypertonic > 300 mOsM of nonpenetrating solutes

Hypoosmotic < 300 mOsM of nonpenetrating solutes

30.

31.
32.
2. Active Transport
movement of molecules against a concentration
gradient
energy-requiring
33.
a. Primary Active Transport
makes use of energy derived from breakdown
of ATP
requires carrier proteins that impart energy to
bounded molecule
34.
i.
Na+-K+-ATPase
phosphorylation of the carrier
protein by splitting action of ATPase
= ATP ADP + P
Na+-K+ pump is electrogenic
for every 3 Na+ out, 2 K+ in = net of
1 positive charge in ECF
basis for reestablishing Na-K
gradients after action potential in
nerves
35.
ii.
Calcium-Hydrogen-ATPase

Calcium pump
maintains Ca2+ ICF << Ca2+ ECF
plasma membrane calcium pump =
cell signaling
sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium
pump = muscle contraction

Hydrogen pump
gastric glands of stomach =
hydrochloric acid secretions in
stomach
distal tubules and collecting ducts of
kidneys = H+ ions secreted into
urine
b. Secondary Active Transport
makes use of stored energy from Primary AT in
form of ionic concentration differences between
two sides of membrane
requires carrier proteins that impart energy to
bounded molecule
36.
i.
Co-transport
makes use of stored energy gradient
Na+ concentration gradient: high at
ECF
symport
Na+-glucose co-transport (2:1)
Na+-amino acid co-transport
37.
ii.
Countertransport
makes use of stored energy gradient
Na+ concentration gradient: high at
ECF
antiport
Na+-Ca2+ countertransport
Na+-H+ countertransport
3. Vesicular/Vacuolar Transport
transport of large particles is across but not through
the lipid bilayer
accomplished through vesicle formation
vesicle membrane = plasma membrane
a. Endocytosis
entry into the cell
phagocytosis, pinocytosis, receptor-mediated

b.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
-

Exocytosis
exit from the cell

*Protein-mediated transport
faster than non-mediated passive transport
displays saturation kinetics
displays specificity
similar chemical classes exhibit competitiveness
prevented by inhibitors
MEMBRANE POTENTIAL
Potential ~ Voltage
force resulting from the tendency of oppositely charged
ions to move toward one another
fundamental property of cells resulting from an excess of
negative charges on one side of the PM and an excess of
positive charges on the other
unequal distribution of ions across the membrane
used to transmit signal among electrically excitable cells,
nerves and muscles

45.
A. Resting Membrane Potential (RMP)
potential difference (voltage) across cell membrane at
rest
experimentally measured as:

neurons = -75 mV

skeletal muscles = -90 mV

smooth muscles = -60 mV

attributed to unequal ion distribution; e.g. Na+, K+ Clmore negative inside since large anions cannot pass
through cell membrane
at rest, K+ ions leak through the channels
DIFFUSION POTENTIAL
*EQUILIBRIUM POTENTIAL of an ion: ions are
at equilibrium across the membrane; no net
movement of ions; opposes the diffusion of ion down
their conc. gradient (diffusion potential)
46.
47.
Nernst equation

used to predict the EP of a specific ion

48.
49.
Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz/Goldman equation

derived Nernst eqn

used to predict the EP of several permeating

ions depending on their

permability

concentration
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.

electric charge
considers distribution and permeability of
several ions simultaneously
RMP is therefore the result of the nature of all
ions along the membrane
RMP resulting primarily from diffusion
potential (of largly K+ ions) and active transport
(Na-K pump)

50.
B. Action Potential
transient and rapid changes in membrane polarity of
nerves and muscles
negative MP (rest) positive MP (action)
initiates at axon hillock
synapse
nerve impulse

down the length of axons in velocities of 2.5

m/s (small nonmyelinated axons) to 120 m/s (in
myelinated axons)

axon hillock axon terminals

voltage-dependent
51.
52. Conduction velocity of AP is affected by:
53.
1. Myelination
axon covered with Schwann cells (PNS) or
oligodendroglia (CNS)
node is the only region of ion permeability and
current flow
saltatory conduction
54.
2. Axon diameter
diameter, resistance, conduction velocity
giant axons = axons larger than other axons within
the same animal
55.
56. What generates an action potential?
57.
1. stimuli from the environment
2. impulse from a preceding neuron
58.
a MP that is 15-30 mV above the RMP (action potential
threshold = threshold of excitation)
all or none
threshold Na+ influx depolarization (+ feedback
goes back to Na+ influx) peak voltage of +60 mV = EP
of Na+ repolarization = closing of Na+ channels; slowly
closing of K+ channels; K+ still exit neuron goes back to
threshold

78.
79.
80.
81. Mechanisms of Action Potential
82.
83. (1)
84. (2)
88. resting
100. depolarization:
potential:
101. voltage-gated Na+
+
+
89. K -Na
channels open
leak
channels
90. (K+
108. increase in Na+
channels
permeability
more
permeable
)
115. Na+ enters cell down
91.
is electrochemical
92.
gradient
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99. PK >> PNa

121. refractory:
122. Na+ channels can be:
a. closed and ready
b. open
c. closed and not ready

128. PNa PNa >> PK

PNa

85. (3)
102. depolarization:
103. voltage-gated K+
channels open

86. (4)
104. voltage-gated
K+ channels
remain open
(lag)

109. K+ channels open

more slowly than
Na+ channels

110. hyperpolariz
ation:
111. K+ efflux
from cell is
greater than
resting state
as voltagegated K+
channels
remain open

116. increase in K+
permeability

123. less Na+ influx

and more K+
efflux
repolarization
restore RMP

124. more negative

than RMP

129. PK >> PNa

130.

131.
132. Summary:
133.
1. Threshold all or none response
2. Depolarization less negative membrane potential; due to
Na influx
3. Repolarization more negative membrane potential (=
RMP); due to K efflux
4. Hyperpolarization membrane potential more negative
than RMP

87. (5)
105. refractory period:
106. recovery time for the
membrane before
another AP can be
elicited
112. Abs
113. Rela
olut
tive
e
RP
RP
118. no
119. occu
me
rring
mbr
depo
ane
lariz
dep
ation
olar
s
izat
will
ion
not
reac
h
thres
hold
level
s
125. cau
126. caus
sed
ed
by
by
resi
open
dua
ing
l
of
inac
K+
tiva
chan
tion
nels
of
Na+
cha
nne
ls

5. Refractory Period absolute vs. relative

134.
135. Hodgkin Cycle
positive feedback relationship between depolarization and
corresponding increase in Na+ current flow across the cell
membrane
- membrane depolarization increase in PNa Na+ influx
back to membrane depolarization