Membrane Permability Flashcards
What two factors affect membrane permeability?
Temperature and Solvents
How does temperature affect membrane permeability?
-As temperature increases, phospholipids gain kinetic energy and move around more.
-Creates gaps in membrane so particles can pass through easier.
-Permeability is therefore increased.
What happens to the transport proteins as the temperature increases? And how does this affect permeability?
Denature so will affect the permeability by creating more or less space.
-If temperature increases too much, membrane will break down and bust completely.
What solvent interacts with the phosphate heads to maintain the bi-layer?
Water-a polar solvent.
What substances have the ability to disrupt the membrane?
Less polar and non-polar such as alcohol and benzene.
How do non-polar molecules such as alcohol affect membrane permeability/fluidity?
-Can diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer.
-The bilayer is disrupted so increases the fluidity.
How will a weak alcohol affect the membrane differently to a strong alcohol?
Weak-disrupt membrane
Strong-breakdown and dissolve membrane completely.
