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Diffusion is the ability of molecules to follow a concentration gradient, moving from regions of high to low concentration. For small, nonpolar molecules such as O2, CO2, and some narcotics, they are small enough to slip through the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane. Small, polar molecules such as water, are also small enough to slip through, but because of their polar nature, this movement is impeded by a factor of 1000. What about larger molecules like glucose? These molecules are too big to slip through the phospholipid bilayer, regardless of the concentration gradient. Larger molecules require a protein channel for transport across the plasma membrane. Because the movement will be driven by the concentration gradient, this movement is called facilitated diffusion, to indicate that a protein channel is necessary. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have protein channels for this purpose.
Which is the effect of having the polar and nonpolar ends of phospholipid molecules oriented as they are in this illustration?
The structure of cell membrane allows nonpolar molecules to diffuse, but not polar molecules. Membrane architecture is in the form of a phospholipid bilayer. A single phospholipid has a "head" composed of a polar NH3 group, and two "tails" composed of nonpolar fatty acids. The lipids spontaneously arrange themselves into bilayers with the hydrophilic heads directed outward, and the hydrophobic tails facing inward. Because nonpolar solvents can only dissolve nonpolar solutes, polar molecules cannot mix with the nonpolar inside of the lipid bilayer. A polar molecule cannot cross the cell's lipid membrane without aid from a carrier protein. While this is true, there are multiple forces that dictate whether or not a molecule can cross a phospholipid membrane, including electrochemical gradients and size. Very small and non-polar molecules have a very easy time crossing the phospholipid bilayer. However, very small, polar molecules like water can also cross the phospholipid bilayer due to hydrostatic pressure and concentration gradient differences. Water will, but with some difficulty because of it's polarity. Aquaporins, protein channels embedded into cellular membranes allow for sufficient amounts of water to diffuse into cells.
Molecules that do not have oppositely charged ends are nonpolar molecules.
Oxygen molecules are small and nonpolar, which allows them to easily pass through the hydrophobic lipid bilayer of the cell membrane via simple diffusion. Glucose molecules, on the other hand, are larger and polar, making it more difficult for them to move through the nonpolar interior of the lipid bilayer. They require specific transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement across the membrane.
Diffusion is the ability of molecules to follow a concentration gradient, moving from regions of high to low concentration. For small, nonpolar molecules such as O2, CO2, and some narcotics, they are small enough to slip through the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane. Small, polar molecules such as water, are also small enough to slip through, but because of their polar nature, this movement is impeded by a factor of 1000. What about larger molecules like glucose? These molecules are too big to slip through the phospholipid bilayer, regardless of the concentration gradient. Larger molecules require a protein channel for transport across the plasma membrane. Because the movement will be driven by the concentration gradient, this movement is called facilitated diffusion, to indicate that a protein channel is necessary. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have protein channels for this purpose.
Diffusion of nonpolar molecules would not be affected by charge. Allosteric inhibition is generally a result of binding regulatory molecule at a site other than the active site.
hydrogen bonds with the polar end of the phospholipid molecule
Which is the effect of having the polar and nonpolar ends of phospholipid molecules oriented as they are in this illustration?
The structure of cell membrane allows nonpolar molecules to diffuse, but not polar molecules. Membrane architecture is in the form of a phospholipid bilayer. A single phospholipid has a "head" composed of a polar NH3 group, and two "tails" composed of nonpolar fatty acids. The lipids spontaneously arrange themselves into bilayers with the hydrophilic heads directed outward, and the hydrophobic tails facing inward. Because nonpolar solvents can only dissolve nonpolar solutes, polar molecules cannot mix with the nonpolar inside of the lipid bilayer. A polar molecule cannot cross the cell's lipid membrane without aid from a carrier protein. While this is true, there are multiple forces that dictate whether or not a molecule can cross a phospholipid membrane, including electrochemical gradients and size. Very small and non-polar molecules have a very easy time crossing the phospholipid bilayer. However, very small, polar molecules like water can also cross the phospholipid bilayer due to hydrostatic pressure and concentration gradient differences. Water will, but with some difficulty because of it's polarity. Aquaporins, protein channels embedded into cellular membranes allow for sufficient amounts of water to diffuse into cells.
Soap is actually both. It is similar to a phospholipid in that it has a polar head and a nonpolar tail.
the two fatty acid tails
Molecules that do not have oppositely charged ends are nonpolar molecules.
Nonpolar molecules have no net dipoles. The most common nonpolar molecules are hydrocarbons. These are molecules made entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms.
Cholesterols, as well as exogenous (from diet) triacylglycerols, are transported, from the intestines to the tissues through the blood stream, by lipoproteins called chylomicrons, globular micellelike particles that consist of a nonpolar core of triacylglycerols and cholesteryl esters surrounded by an amphiphilic coating protein, phospholipid, and cholsterol.
Oxygen molecules are small and nonpolar, which allows them to easily pass through the hydrophobic lipid bilayer of the cell membrane via simple diffusion. Glucose molecules, on the other hand, are larger and polar, making it more difficult for them to move through the nonpolar interior of the lipid bilayer. They require specific transport proteins or channels to facilitate their movement across the membrane.
Neutral charge, nonpolar, and hydrophobic.