lipid bilayer

1.1 Membrane Structure and Composition

phospholipids create a spherical three dimensional lipid bilayer shell

to pass freely (diffuse) through the membrane. The lipid bilayer is virtually

Lipid bilayers are fluid, and individual phospholipids diffuse

Membrane Transport Problem Answers

able. Na+ and K+ cannot cross the lipid bilayer itself, but they CAN

Lipids

planar lipid bilayers

spherical lipid bilayers (vesicles)

A phospholipid bilayer is approximately 5 nm thick. This membrane is semipermeable,

Membrane Proteins

Cells contain proteins that are embedded in the lipid bilayer of their

transmembrane domains anchor many proteins in the lipid bilayer,these

biochemically without first dissolving away the lipid bilayer with

Membrane Proteins Introduction

problems. Some are embedded in the lipid bilayer and even extend through

the surface of the lipid bilayer and are termed extrinsic membrane proteins

in that they can usually be readily separated from the lipid bilayer without

Membrane Transport Mechanisms

from the lipid bilayer by an array of transmembrane domains around it.