THE FRONTIERS OF LIFE lectures in physiology and development in the light of evolution David Barrington, 2008
The main point to be made here is that certain kinds of molecules have physical and chemical properties that allow them to self-assemble into orderly structures, and these are the molecules used by living cells. Deamer, 1999
The Membrane Frontier 1.Membrane Structure - phospholipids 2.Membrane Proteins and Functions 3.Origin of Membranes; Origin of Life
Soap function relates to membrane structure.
Soap bubbles are inside-out lipid bilayers (protecting water from evaporation, so it persists as a liquid in the air longer).
Phospholipid s are amphiphilic: a single molecule has a polar and non-polar region.
Building a phospholipid
Phospholipids are the key and common molecules in the membrane.
LE 7-2 Hydrophilic head Hydrophobic tail WATER phosphatidyl choline.
LE 7-5a Lateral movement (~10 7 times per second) Flip-flop (~ once per month) Movement of phospholipids
The Membrane Frontier 1.Membrane Structure - phospholipids 2.Membrane Proteins and Functions 3.Origin of Membranes; Origin of Life
LE 7-3 Hydrophilic region of protein Hydrophobic region of protein Phospholipid bilayer
LE 7-6 Membrane proteins Mixed proteins after 1 hour Hybrid cell Human cell Mouse cell
LE 7-7 Fibers of extracellular matrix (ECM) Glycoprotein Carbohydrate Microfilaments of cytoskeleton Cholesterol Integral protein Peripheral proteins CYTOPLASMIC SIDE OF MEMBRANE EXTRACELLULAR SIDE OF MEMBRANE Glycolipid
LE 7-9a Enzymes Signal Receptor ATP Transport Enzymatic activity Signal transduction
LE 7-9b Glyco- protein Cell-cell recognition Intercellular joining Attachment to the cytoskeleton and extra- cellular matrix (ECM)
Figure 36.2 A chemiosmotic model of solute transport in plant cells
The Membrane Frontier 1.Membrane Structure - phospholipids 2.Membrane Proteins and Functions 3.Origin of Membranes; Origin of Life
Lipids self- assemble into spheres in water.
Fatty-acid length matters.
Meteorite contents witness ancient non- biological organic molecules
including molecules that form osmotically functional vesicles Nonanoic acid Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
The Membrane Frontier 1.Membrane Structure - phospholipids 2.Membrane Proteins and Functions 3.Origin of Membranes; Origin of Life