Gatekeepers – Membrane Proteins

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Familial Mediterranean Fever
Gatekeepers – Membrane Proteins

Time To Read

1–2 minutes

Date Last Modified

June 21, 2026

OVERVIEW

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

PART 7

Quiz

CHART CLUE

The inflammasome is intracellular, pyrin lives in neutrophils, and microtubules – colchicine’s target – are part of the cytoskeleton A network of protein filaments that provide structure, shape, and movement to cells.. The transport half of the module finally explains Stina’s swelling, how an ion channel can trigger inflammation, and how a pump handles colchicine.

The Story

The membrane is studded with proteinsLarge molecules made of amino acids with various functions in the body.: channelsProtein passages in the cell membrane that allow specific molecules to pass through., carriersMembrane proteins that transport substances across a cell membrane., pumps, and receptorsProteins located on the surface or inside cells that bind specific molecules (e.g., neurotransmitter. They are the gatekeepers. One family of receptors senses danger – and in Stina, that danger-sensing machinery keeps pulling a false alarm. That alarm has a name we will keep returning to: the inflammasome.

From Stina’s chart: One thoughtful physician came close, noting that her “immune system seems to overreact.” It was the right instinct. Without a next step, it went into the file with everything else.

Compare Stina’s uninfected appendixA small, finger-like pouch attached to the cecum, thought to play a role in immune function. to an infected appendix.

Activity:

Past the membrane lie the organellestructures within a cell that perform specialized functions.. First, the cell’s powerhouse and skeleton – including colchicine’s exact target.

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The Cell as the Scene

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Organelles I – Power & Skeleton