Textbook Question
Draw the structure of a glycerophospholipid that contains palmitic acid, oleic acid, and the phosphate bonded to propanolamine.
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Ch.23 Lipids
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 Matter and Measurements27
- Ch.2 Atoms and the Periodic Table20
- Ch.3 Ionic Compounds8
- Ch.4 Molecular Compounds23
- Ch.5 Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions12
- Ch.6 Chemical Reactions: Mole and Mass Relationships28
- Ch.7 Chemical Reactions: Energy, Rate and Equilibrium64
- Ch.8 Gases, Liquids and Solids24
- Ch.9 Solutions52
- Ch.10 Acids and Bases25
- Ch.11 Nuclear Chemistry22
- Ch.12 Introduction to Organic Chemistry: Alkanes57
- Ch.13 Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds47
- Ch.14 Some Compounds with Oxygen, Sulfur, or a Halogen50
- Ch.15 Aldehydes and Ketones45
- Ch.16 Amines42
- Ch.17 Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives57
- Ch.18 Amino Acids and Proteins82
- Ch.19 Enzymes and Vitamins63
- Ch.20 Carbohydrates44
- Ch.21 The Generation of Biochemical Energy65
- Ch.22 Carbohydrate Metabolism45
- Ch.23 Lipids42
- Ch.24 Lipid Metabolism33
- Ch.25 Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism24
- Ch.26 Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis45
McMurry8th EditionFundamentals of General, Organic, and Biological ChemistryISBN: 9780134015187Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 23, Problem 74a
Based on the information in Section 23.7, how would you expect each of these common metabolites to cross the cell membrane?
a. NO (nitrous oxide)
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Identify the chemical properties of nitrous oxide (NO). NO is a small, nonpolar molecule, which is important for determining how it interacts with the cell membrane.
Recall the structure of the cell membrane. The cell membrane is composed of a phospholipid bilayer with hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads on the outside and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails on the inside.
Understand the mechanism of passive diffusion. Small, nonpolar molecules like NO can diffuse directly through the hydrophobic core of the phospholipid bilayer without the need for transport proteins or energy input.
Conclude that NO crosses the cell membrane via passive diffusion due to its small size and nonpolar nature, which allows it to move freely through the lipid bilayer.
Note that this process does not require energy (ATP) or specific transport mechanisms, as NO moves down its concentration gradient across the membrane.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Cell Membrane Structure
The cell membrane is primarily composed of a phospholipid bilayer, which creates a semi-permeable barrier. This structure allows certain molecules to pass through while restricting others based on size, polarity, and charge. Understanding this structure is crucial for predicting how different metabolites, like NO, can traverse the membrane.
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Cell Membranes Example 1
Diffusion
Diffusion is the process by which molecules move from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration. Small, nonpolar molecules, such as nitrous oxide (NO), can easily diffuse across the lipid bilayer without the need for transport proteins, making this concept essential for understanding how NO crosses the cell membrane.
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Membrane Permeability
Membrane permeability refers to the ability of substances to pass through the cell membrane. Factors influencing permeability include molecular size, polarity, and the presence of specific transport mechanisms. For example, NO is a small, nonpolar gas, which enhances its permeability and allows it to diffuse freely across the membrane.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Cardiolipin, a compound found in heart muscle, has the following structure. What products are formed if all ester bonds in the molecule are saponified by treatment with aqueous NaOH?
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Textbook Question
Which process requires energy—passive or active transport? Why is energy sometimes required to move solute across the cell membrane?
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Textbook Question
Based on the information in Section 23.7, how would you expect each of these common metabolites to cross the cell membrane?
c. Ca2+
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Textbook Question
Based on the information in Section 23.7, how would you expect each of these common metabolites to cross the cell membrane?
a. CO
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Textbook Question
Which of the following are saponifiable lipids? (Recall that ester bonds are broken by base hydrolysis.)
a. Progesterone
b. Glyceryl trioleate
c. A sphingomyelin
d. Prostaglandin E1
e. A cerebroside
f. A lecithin
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