Membrane biology

Chapter 8: Membrane structure and function Membrane Structure Membrane models have evolved to fit new data Membranes are fluid Membranes are mosaics of structure and function Membrane carbohydrates are important for cell-cell recognition Traffic across membranes A membranes molecular organization results in selective permeability Permeability of the lipid bilayer Transport proteins Passive transport is diffusion across a membrane Osmosis is the passive transport of water Cell survival depends on balancing water uptake and loss Water balance of cells without walls Water balance of cells with walls Specific proteins facilitate the passive transport of water and selected solutes Active transport is the pumping of solutes against their gradients