7.1 membrane fluidity Flashcards
1
Q
what bonds hold the phospholipid bilayer together
A
hydrophobic interactions
-weaker than covalent bonds
2
Q
changing membrane
A
phospholidids move and drift
- somtimes they flipflop
- proteins move
3
Q
what keeps some membranes from freezing solid
A
unsaturated hydrocarbon tails and rich in phospholipids
- the unsaturated can’t pack as tightly as saturated because of the double bonds
4
Q
cholesterol affects membrane fluidity
A
high temp: retrains phospholipid movement
low temp: hinders close packing
5
Q
why don’t you want to solidify membrane
A
permeability changes
enzymes may inactivate
