The structure and function of the plasma membrane and the movement of substances across it:

The fluid-mosaic model of a plasma membrane Fluid mosaic model: a model used to describe the structural features of plasma membranes. o Fluid refers to the fluid, flexible properties of the plasma membrane. o Mosaic refers to the many different macromolecules that make up the plasma membrane, including proteins, glycoproteins, glycolipids, phospholipids and cholesterol. 1. Describe the fluid mosaic model for the structure of the cell membrane. 2. Some bacterial cell membranes contain proteins called porins. A porin is a pipe-liked structure made of a single amino acid chain that embeds itself into the membrane. The following image shows a portion of a cell membrane containing a porin. Outline one function of each of the structures labelled.

The packaging, transport, import and export of biomacromolecules (specifically proteins) Osmosis: passive net movement of water across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration due to osmotic pressure. Diffusion: passive net movement of substances from an area of high solute concentration to an area of low solute concentration. o Substances that can passively diffuse across a cell membrane include: hydrophobic molecules (e.g. lipids), very small molecules (e.g. urea) and small, uncharged molecules (e.g. oxygen). o Larger and/or hydrophilic molecules (e.g. proteins) are unable to diffuse across cell membranes without assistance. Facilitated diffusion: the passive net movement of substances across a cell membrane from an area of high solute concentration to an area of low solute concentration with the assistance of cell membrane transport proteins. o Cell membrane proteins include protein channels and carrier proteins. These proteins are selective and can become saturated. o Substances that often move by facilitated diffusion include: mono- and disaccharides and ions. Active transport: active (energy-requiring) net movement of substances across a cell membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. o This can include endocytosis, exocytosis and active transport using cell membrane transport proteins. o Substances that often move by active transport via cell membrane proteins include: mono- and disaccharides and ions. o Substances that often move by endo- and exocytosis include: proteins, polysaccharides and other substances being transported in bulk. Endocytosis: bulk movement of substances into a cell by the cell membrane engulfing the substances and forming a vesicle.

Exocytosis: bulk movement of substances out of a cell by a vesicle merged with the cell membrane and expelling its contents. 3. Define and compare the processes: diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, active transport and vesiclemediated transport. 4. Explain how a monosaccharide enters an epithelial cell. 5. Explain how the chemical composition of a protein channel in the cell membrane facilitates its role. 6. Identify and explain a transport process that may be observed a macrophage. 7. Explain the significance of diffusion in cellular respiration.

The role played by organelles including ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and associated vesicles in the export of proteins. Below is the process of protein synthesis and export in eukaryotic cells: 1. Transcription: DNA in the nucleus is transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA) and then transported to the cytoplasm. 2. Translation: mRNA is translated into a polypeptide chain (protein with its primary structure) by the ribosomes, using amino acids carried by specific transfer RNA (tRNA). As the polypeptide chain is being synthesised it begins to form its secondary structure. o The mRNA code is read three nucleotides (a codon) at a time; anticodons on tRNA match specific codons on mRNA so that the correct amino acid is added to the polypeptide chain. 3. Once the polypeptide chain is synthesised it moves into the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which transports it to the Golgi apparatus via vesicles. 4. In the Golgi apparatus the polypeptide chain undergoes further folding into a three-dimensional structure to form its tertiary and sometimes quaternary structure. 5. The resultant proteins are then sorted and packaged into vesicles for transport to their next destinations, e.g. secreted from the cell by exocytosis.

8. How are the functions of the ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and vesicles related? 9. Explain the importance of ribosomes in a plasma B cell. 10. Describe the role of the endoplasmic reticulum in the cells in an endocrine gland.