Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
What is the effect of cholesterol in a membrane?
A
Increases membrane fluidity by preventing acyl chain packing.
B
Reduces membrane fluidity acyl chain movement.
C
Both a & b.
D
Neither a or b.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of cholesterol in biological membranes: Cholesterol is a lipid molecule that is interspersed within the phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes.
Recognize that cholesterol has a dual role in membrane fluidity: It can both increase and decrease membrane fluidity depending on the temperature and the specific lipid environment.
At low temperatures, cholesterol increases membrane fluidity by preventing the fatty acid chains of phospholipids from packing tightly together. This is because cholesterol disrupts the regular packing of the acyl chains, thus preventing the membrane from becoming too rigid.
At high temperatures, cholesterol reduces membrane fluidity by restraining the movement of phospholipid fatty acid chains. This is because cholesterol's rigid ring structure provides a stabilizing effect, making the membrane less fluid.
Conclude that cholesterol's effect on membrane fluidity is context-dependent, and it can both increase and decrease fluidity, which aligns with option D: Both a & b.