Membrane Proteins

Channel Proteins extend through the membrane and acts as a gate.  This gate regulates what comes in and what leaves the cell.  These proteins are specific in the materials that they will allow / transport through the membrane. 

Receptor Proteins - Specific proteins relay messages from the environment to the interior of the cell.  Only material with the correct shape fits on the end of one of these proteins.  When a match is made, the receptor protein changes conformation (shape).  This triggers a response from the inside of the cell.

Marker Proteins - The are short proteins that do not extend through the membrane completely.  These will generally have a carbohydrate that sticks off of the protein to the environment that surrounds the cell.  This will be used as tag for purposes of identification.

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