Question

Unlike many soluble proteins that associate to form large multisubunit complexes to carry out their specific functions, do membrane proteins mostly function in isolation and rarely form large complexes?

1) True
2) False

Answer 1

The statement is false; membrane proteins can and often do form complexes to carry out their specific functions, including ion transport, signaling, and maintaining the selective permeability of the membrane.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement that membrane proteins mostly function in isolation and rarely form large complexes is False. In reality, membrane proteins often form complexes just like soluble proteins do. Membrane proteins facilitate various functions in the cell membrane such as ion transport, signaling, and anchoring other molecules to the membrane, requiring them to interact and sometimes form larger functional complexes.

For example, integral membrane proteins span the plasma membrane and are involved in transporting species, while peripheral membrane proteins that are loosely attached to the membrane act as enzymes or regulators. Proteins in the membrane are responsible for the selective permeability and are intimately involved in the cellular processes that require multiple protein complexes, such as cell adhesion, signal transduction, and interaction with the cytoskeletal elements.