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Membrane Proteins definitions

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  • Transmembrane Protein
    Spans the entire lipid bilayer, often forming alpha helices or beta barrels, and can function asymmetrically on each side of the membrane.
  • Integral Membrane Protein
    Directly attached to the lipid bilayer, may extend through or associate with only one side, and interacts with membrane lipids.
  • Peripheral Membrane Protein
    Associates with the membrane via interactions with other proteins, not directly with lipids, and is confined to one side of the bilayer.
  • Lipid-Anchored Protein
    Covalently bound to membrane lipids, providing strong attachment; includes types like GPI-anchored and fatty acid-anchored proteins.
  • Alpha Helix
    Common structure in membrane-spanning regions, with hydrophobic side chains interacting with lipid tails, masking hydrophilic portions.
  • Beta Barrel
    Cylindrical structure formed by beta sheets, often creating channels for large molecules to cross the membrane.
  • Glycoprotein
    Protein with attached carbohydrate chains, contributing to cell protection and extracellular interactions.
  • Glycolipid
    Lipid molecule with a carbohydrate group, found on the membrane surface, involved in cell recognition.
  • Glycocalyx
    Protective, carbohydrate-rich layer on the cell surface, formed by glycoproteins and glycolipids.
  • Cell Cortex
    Network beneath the plasma membrane, composed of proteins and cytoskeleton, supporting cell shape and limiting protein movement.
  • Lateral Diffusion
    Movement of membrane proteins or lipids within the same layer of the bilayer, contributing to membrane fluidity.
  • Rotational Diffusion
    Spinning of membrane proteins or lipids around their axis within the bilayer, affecting membrane dynamics.
  • Freeze Fracturing
    Technique that splits frozen membranes to reveal embedded proteins and inner membrane surfaces for structural study.
  • FRAP
    Method using fluorescence recovery to measure mobility and fluidity of membrane proteins or lipids after photobleaching.
  • Detergent
    Small molecule with hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, used to disrupt membranes and isolate proteins in laboratory studies.