Membrane lipids

6 important questions on Membrane lipids

What are the 3 function of the cell membrane?

  1. Barrier function (between compartments)
  2. membrane movement
  3. Sensing/signalling

What are the components of phospholipids and triglycerides?

Phospholipids
  • polar group
  • glycerol
  • 2 fatty acid chains

Triglycerides
  • Glycerol
  • 3 fatty acid
  • Used as fuel and energy storage
  • insoluble/hydrophobic, thus never in a membrane!

What are the difference between PC, PE, PS?

Most important phosphlipids where the phosphor head group gives the name of the lipid
  • Phosphaldyl choline (PC)
    • outside of cell membrane
  • Phosphaldyl ethanolamine (PE)
    • inside of cell membrane
  • Phosphaldyl serine (PS)
    • outside of cell membrane
    • inside of cell membrane
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How is ceramide synthesised?

  • From saturated FA palmitate
  • Gangliosides: sphingolipids with sugars (oligosaccharide-chain) attached


Can have lysosomal storage disorder

What are the 3 functions of cholesterol?

  • Membrane flexibility
    • when present → more stiff

  • Bile acids formation (in liver)
    • transported lipids in or out the intestine
    • Excess cholesterol secretion via bile → Gallstones

  • Steroids hormones
    • Steroid hormones bind to nuclear receptors (transcription factors) which regulate gene expression
      • Cortisol "fight and flight"
        • suppresses immune system
        • enhanced glucoeogenesis, enhanced insulin
        • circadian rhythm (sleep awake)
        • Addison disease
      • Vitamine D
        • to little: problems with bones, depression, cancer and immune system
        • to much: toxic

How does SREBP stay in ER?

Inactive "enough cholesterol"
  • Sterol is binding to SCAP which is attached to INSIG so SREBP stays inhibited.

Active "not enough cholesterol"
  • no sterol is binding SCAP which then changes shape, and releases and activates INSIG which can travel to Golgi and activate SREBP gene expression

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