Biology

Cell Membrane Dynamics: Flippase Vs Floppase Vs Scramblase

What are the differences between flippase, floppase, and scramblase?

In this quick lesson, we explain the differences between flippase, floppase, and scramblase, important enzymes for lipid transport in the cell membrane and their different dynamic functions in the phospholipid bilayer.

Flippase vs. Floppases vs. Scramblase; Source Image: Frances Sharom

Flippase vs Floppase vs Scramblase

Flippase, floppase, and scramblase are enzymes that change the positions of phospholipids within cell membranes. They are essentially lipid transport proteins that aid the movement of phospholipid molecules within the cell membrane.

What are flippases and floppases composed of?
Protein
Phospholipid
Only Lipid

What do Flippases do? What do Floppases do?

Flippase moves an outer phospholipid leaflet to the inner phospholipid leaflet. Floppase does the opposite; it moves an inner phospholipid leaflet to the outer phospholipid leaflet.

The outer phospholipid leaflet refers to the phospholipid that is on the side touching the extracellular fluid. The inner phospholipid leaflet is the phospholipid that is on the side touching the cell’s inner cytoplasm.

Which enzyme moves phospholipid leaflets from the inside to the outside?
Floppase
Flippase
Scramblase
3D Image of Flippase Molecule; Source Credit: Wikipedia

Only flippase and floppase need ATP or energy to flip or flop the phospholipids inner and outer leaflets.

Easy to Remember Memory Aid: Think of Flippase as a Front Forward Flip. You tuck in to flip forward. Tucking to the inner side.

Which enzyme(s) need(s) ATP to move lipids in the cell membrane?
Flippase and floppase
Only scramblase
Only flippase
Only floppase
Flippase, floppase, and scramblase

What do Scramblases do?

Like its name, scramblase scrambles the inner and outer phospholipid leaflets. Scramblase does not need ATP or energy because it flips one outer phopholipid to a inner phospholipid leaflet, and also flips an inner phospholipid leaflet into an outer phospholipid leaflet. Compared to flippase and floppase, scramblase however is calcium dependent (Ca2+ dependent) to function.

FlippaseFloppaseScramblase
Needs ATPNeeds ATPDoes not need ATP; needs calcium
SpecificSpecificNon-specific
Moves from outer to inner (flips in)Moves from inner to outerDoes both at the same time equally
Which molecule is needed to help scramblases to move phospholipids?
Calcium
ATP
Electron
GTP
None

Works Cited

  1. Hankins, Hannah. NCBI. Role of flippases, scramblases, and transfer proteins. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4275391/
  2. Kobayashi, Toshihide. Transbilayer lipid asymmetry. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/comments/S0960-9822(18)30009-5
  3. Sharom, Frances. Flipping and flopping – Lipids on the move. https://iubmb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/iub.515

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36 replies »

  1. In the last table isn’t the role of flippase and floppase reversed. I don’t know I might be confused 😐

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