Question

1. Explain the specific asymmetric phospholipid distribution in the plasma membrane.

2. Explain where lipids are synthesized and the role of flippases.

3. Explain the location of glycolipids in the plasma membrane and why this location. What is functional importance of glycolipids and glycoproteins?

4. Explain the ways that proteins can associate with the lipid bilayer and define integral membrane protein vs. peripheral membrane protein.

Answer 1

1.Phospholipids like glycerophospholipids(ether glycerophospholipids are found in mammals is platelet-activating factor) and sphingolipids, constitute the bulk lipid components of all mammalian membranes.

phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine, sphingomyelin, and glycosphingolipids are primarily located on the exoplasmic leaflet, while aminophospholipids, including phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine, are generally enriched in the cytoplasmic leaflet.

2.the endomembrane compartment is a major site of lipid synthesis.the ER and Golgi apparatus will together constitute the endomembrane compartment in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells.

flippases majorly took part in the movement of phospholipid molecules between the two leaflets that compose a cell's membrane.

3.lipid containing saccharide groups go under the general name of glycolipid. they found on the surface of all eukaryotic cell membranes, where they extend from the phospholipid bilayer into the extracellular environment.

they serve as recognition sites for cell-cell interactions. and they took part in the immune responses like during the inflammation and the recognition of host cells by viruses.