Factors affecting membrane structure Flashcards
What are the two factors which affect membrane structure?
Temperature and solvents
What happens to the phospholipids as the temperature increases?
The phospholipids will have more kinetic energy and will move more.
What does the increased movement of the phospholipids result in?
The membrane will become more fluid as it begins to loose its structure
How does the increased fluidity of the membrane affect its permeability?
The membrane would become more permeable (more easier for particles to cross it)
What happens to carrier and channel proteins when the temperature increases?
They will become denatured
What does the denaturing of the channel and carrier proteins affect?
The permeability of the membrane
How do less polar organic solvents affect the structure of the membrane?
The non-polar solvents are able to enter the membrane and disrupt the position f the phospholipids.
What happens if increased organic solvents disrupt the structure of the membrane?
The membrane becomes more fluid and more permeable
