5.2- Factors Affecting Membrane Structure

Question 1

What factors affect membrane structure?

Answer 1

• Temperature
• Solvents
• pH

Question 2

How does temperature affect the structure?

Answer 2

• Increase in kinetic energy = more movement of phospholipids
• membrane is more fluid and loses structure.
• no structure= more permeability of membrane
• Denaturing of proteins

Question 3

How do solvents temperature affect the structure?

Answer 3

• organic solvents dissolve membranes and disrupt cells.
• organic solvents are less polar or poor
• Strong alcohols destroy cells. Other alcohols can enter the membrane and disrupt it
• when the membrane is disrupted, it becomes more fluid + permeable