answersLogoWhite

0

The inside of the cell is negatively charged compared to the outside due to an abundance of negative ions such as proteins and nucleic acids inside the cell. This creates an electrical potential across the membrane known as the membrane potential.

User Avatar

AnswerBot

1y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What are the sources of fixed charges on the surfaces of biological membranes?

The fixed charges on the surfaces of biological membranes primarily arise from the presence of negatively charged phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. Additionally, proteins embedded in or associated with the membrane can contribute to fixed charges through their ionizable amino acid side chains. Nucleic acids and glycosaminoglycans on the membrane surface also impart fixed charges due to their acidic nature. These fixed charges play a crucial role in membrane potential, ion transport, and cellular signaling.


What is meant by the statement that the protein of a membrane are distributed asymmetrically?

This means that different types of proteins are concentrated on one side of the membrane compared to the other side. Asymmetrical distribution of proteins is important for maintaining the function and integrity of the membrane, as it allows for specialized roles and interactions on each side of the membrane.


Why would a substance not be able to pass through a membrane by diffusion?

Water cannot diffuse a plasma membrane because of the fact that the phosphate heads of the phospholipids are hydrophilic, the hydrocarbon tails of the phospholipids are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. The bilayer phospholipid model of the plasma membrane shows that the phophates face outward on either side of the membrane and the lipid tails are in the middle of the bilayer.


Which side of a selectively permeable membrane does osmosis exert a pressure?

It exerts pressure on the side with a higher concentration of water.


What side of the membrane does ATP formation happen?

ATP formation typically occurs on the inner side of the mitochondrial membrane in eukaryotic cells. The process involves the electron transport chain and ATP synthase, which are embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane.

Related Questions

What are the sources of fixed charges on the surfaces of biological membranes?

The fixed charges on the surfaces of biological membranes primarily arise from the presence of negatively charged phospholipids, such as phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. Additionally, proteins embedded in or associated with the membrane can contribute to fixed charges through their ionizable amino acid side chains. Nucleic acids and glycosaminoglycans on the membrane surface also impart fixed charges due to their acidic nature. These fixed charges play a crucial role in membrane potential, ion transport, and cellular signaling.


What does the direction of osmosis depend on?

Osmosis is the movement of water across a selectively permeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. The direction of osmosis depends on the relative solute concentrations on either side of the membrane.


How is osmosis related to solute concentration?

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration. The direction and rate of osmosis are influenced by the relative solute concentrations on either side of the membrane.


How does the movement of protons across a membrane contribute to the establishment of an electrochemical gradient, specifically the h gradient?

The movement of protons across a membrane helps create an electrochemical gradient by separating positive and negative charges. This separation of charges, particularly with hydrogen ions (H), leads to a buildup of H on one side of the membrane, creating a concentration gradient and an electrical potential difference. This gradient can then be used by cells to generate energy or perform other important functions.


The side from which more water molecules cross the semipermeable membrane?

The pure solvent side is the side from which more water molecules cross the semipermeable membrane.


What happens when two balloons with equal charges lie side by side?

It depends on whether the charges are like or opposite, and how strong they are.


What is meant by the statement that the protein of a membrane are distributed asymmetrically?

This means that different types of proteins are concentrated on one side of the membrane compared to the other side. Asymmetrical distribution of proteins is important for maintaining the function and integrity of the membrane, as it allows for specialized roles and interactions on each side of the membrane.


What type of transport occurs when a membrane protein binds to a molecule on one side of the cell membrane then releases it to the other side?

facilitated diffusion


When one side of the membrane has a higher concentration of particles then the other side of the membrane what happens?

Particles will move from the side with higher concentration to the side with lower concentration until equilibrium is reached. This process is called diffusion and it helps to equalize the concentration of particles on both sides of the membrane.


Which type of transport occurs when a membrane protein binds to a molecule on one side of the cell membrane and then releases it on the other side side?

facilitated diffusion is the type of membrane that occurs in protein binds. This is when molecule goes to one side.Edit : fixed the wrong answer


Blood relative on the mother's side?

aunt


Why would a battery represent mitochrondia?

Pumping protons through the mitochondrian membrane creates a gradient, just like in batteries, where electrons get transferred to different molecules and eventually ending up in ATP. It would be a representation because the membrane charges up (one side is positive and the other, negative) just like in a battery.