Study Question Sets for Exam
1
Study Question Set 5
Membrane Structure 4
- Describe, in a general way, the role of peripheral proteins in maintaining
clusters of membrane proteins in specific localized regions of membrane, such
as at a synapse.
- How did band 3 protein get its name? Explain.
- Distinguish among glycophorin, band 3 protein, ankyrin, and spectrin in
terms of the nature and extent of their association
with the erythrocyte membrane. Explain
explicitly how each of the first 3 proteins is involved in the association
of spectrin with the RBC membrane.
- There are diseases in which RBC behavior or structure is altered as a result of mutations in a spectrin gene. Why might defects in a protein of the spectrin family alter the functional character or stability of cell membranes?
- Why do the carbohydrate chains of membrane glycolipids, glycoproteins, and
proteoglycans make the cell surface "wettable"?
- What is the general distinction between glycoproteins and proteoglycans?
- What feature of plasma membranes is responsible for the fact that the surfaces
of eukaryotic cells stain strongly with ruthenium red or with cationized ferritin?
- What is sialic acid? What important feature does sialic acid contribute
to the cell surface? (Hint: Think about question 12.)
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