Mark the following statements about the plasma membrane as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.
Membrane proteins often function as channels or carriers.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of membrane proteins: Membrane proteins are integral or peripheral proteins embedded in or associated with the plasma membrane. They play various roles, including acting as channels or carriers to facilitate the movement of substances across the membrane.
2. Evaluate the statement: 'Membrane proteins often function as channels or carriers.' This statement is true because many membrane proteins are specifically designed to transport ions, molecules, or other substances across the plasma membrane.
3. Clarify the function of channels: Channel proteins form pores or openings in the membrane that allow specific ions or molecules to pass through, typically following their concentration gradient.
4. Clarify the function of carriers: Carrier proteins bind to specific substances on one side of the membrane, undergo a conformational change, and release the substance on the other side, often facilitating active or passive transport.
5. Conclude the evaluation: Since the statement is accurate, no correction is needed. Membrane proteins indeed often function as channels or carriers to support cellular transport processes.

Key Concepts

Plasma Membrane Structure

The plasma membrane is a phospholipid bilayer that surrounds and protects the cell, providing a barrier between the internal environment and the external surroundings. It is embedded with various proteins that play critical roles in transport, signaling, and maintaining the cell's shape.

Membrane Proteins

Membrane proteins are integral or peripheral proteins that perform essential functions in the plasma membrane. They can act as channels or carriers to facilitate the movement of substances across the membrane, as well as serve as receptors for signaling molecules, contributing to cellular communication.

Transport Mechanisms

Transport mechanisms refer to the processes by which substances move across the plasma membrane. This includes passive transport, such as diffusion and osmosis, and active transport, which requires energy to move molecules against their concentration gradient, ensuring that essential nutrients enter and waste products exit the cell.