Lipid membranes constituents

The involvement of lipid membrane constituents in the interaction of ATP with the protein moiety of the calcium transport system emerges if one compares the reaction of ATP with membrane preparations whose lipid matrix has been removed or modified... 

Different tissues have different lipid compositions. The most common lipid components of membranes are PC and PE. Lipid extracts from brain and lung are also rich in PS heart tissue is rich in PG, and liver is rich in PI [567]. Human blood cells, as ghost erythrocytes (with cytoplasm contents removed), are often used as membrane models. These have different compositions between the inner and outer leaflets of the bilayer membrane. Phospholipids account for 46% of the outer leaflet membrane constituents, with PC and Sph about equal in amount. The inner leaflet is richer in phospholipids (55%), with the mix 19% PE, 12% PS, 7% PC and 5% Sph [567],... 

Figure 6 Intestinal cell membrane model with integral membrane proteins embedded in lipid bilayer. The phospholipid bilayer is 30-45 A thick, and membrane proteins can span up to 100 A through the bilayer. The structure of a typical phospholipid membrane constituent, lecithin is illustrated. (From Ref. 76.)...

Insulation. Lipids are excellent insulators. In the higher animals, neutral fats are found in the subcutaneous tissue and around various organs, where they serve as mechanical and thermal insulators. As the principal constituent of cell membranes, lipids also insulate cells from their environment mechanically and electrically. The impermeability of lipid membranes to ions allows the formation of the membrane potential (see p.l26). 

The lipid constituents in the membrane permit considerable movement of macromolecules, and membrane constituents may move appreciably within membranes. Membrane fluidity, a function of lipid composition, can be altered by temperature and chemicals... 

Two main mechanisms are generally proposed for copper induced changes to the plasma membrane function direct effects on sulphydryl groups of membrane constituents and direct or indirect free radical mediated lipid peroxidation. 

The frequency response of various chemical constituents of nerve membrane was studied. Biological membranes in general consist of lipids and proteins. Firstly, impedance characteristics of artificial lipid bilayer membranes are examined using lecithin-hexadecane preparations. It was observed that the capacitance of plain lipid membranes was independent of frequency between 100 Hz and 20 KHz. Moreover, application of external voltages has no effect up to 200 mV. Secondly, membrane capacitance and conductance of nerve axon were investigated. There are three components in nerve membranes, i.e., conductance, capaci-... 

From the schematic model of the plasma membrane we have just depicted, it is clear that the two sides, the inner and the outer surfaces, should have different functions as a result of different structures. Moreover, the lipid bilayer may be considered as a hydrophobic barrier preventing diffusion of water-soluble molecules from both sides, thus maintaining a permanent distinction between the inside and outside of a cell. It also allows the membrane to form closed vessels, which appear to be an absolute requirement for maintaining the fixed asymmetric orientations of the cell membrane constituents. 

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