Question

Aspirin must enter cells to alleviate pain. Given that the active form of this drug is polar, how does it cross the phospholipid bilayer membrane?

Answer 1

In the inactive form, aspirin is considered to be weak acid that is hydrophobic and can easily pass through the phospholipid bilayer membrane.

Further Explanation:

The phospholipid bilayer is formed because of the amphipathic nature of its components that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups. Phospholipids are aligned with their polar heads towards the outside, and nonpolar tails away from the external environment. The inner part of the membrane is hydrophobic and, therefore, has minimal contact with water.

The plasma membrane is present as a bilayer of phospholipids, with some integrated and peripheral proteins allowing the selective transport of molecules. The peripheral proteins interact either with the hydrophilic region of the membrane or may get attached to the hydrophobic chains.These proteins are also made up of polar amino acids on the ends and nonpolar on the surface. The integral membrane proteins are embedded in the hydrophobic region, and surface proteins are present on the outer membrane. In nonpolar solvent, molecules try to project their tails outside with polar heads away.

Aspirin is also referred to as acetylsalicylic acid that is commonly used to relieve pain for minor aches and also prescribe to reduce fever. It is considered an anti-inflammatory drug that can be used as a blood thinner. In the active form, aspirin is passed through a cell membrane with the help of carrier protein because it is hydrophilic in its active form. If aspirin is in its inactive form, it is considered as hydrophobic and can efficiently pass through the membrane.

Learn More:

1. Learn more about the treatment of eukaryotic cell with a drug brainly.com/question/10767798

2. Learn more about the proteins synthesis in a cell brainly.com/question/1420458

3. Learn more about the exchange of gases by blood cells brainly.com/question/1213217

Answer Details:

Grade: High School

Subjects: Biology

Topic: Cellular Respiration

Keywords:

Aspirin, weak acid, cell membrane, anti-inflammatory, hydrophobic region, bilayer, integrated, protein, relieve pain, polar head, minor.

Answer 2

The cell membrane is made of two layer of phospholipid called phospholipid bilayer. Phospholipid has a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail. The hydrophilic head stick out on the membrane, pushing polar substance that go inside. Hydrophobic substance would be easily pass through the membrane while the hydrophilic doesn't.

If the active form of this drug is polar, then the substance would be hydrophilic. The drug should pass the membrane through active transport like carrier mediated transport or endocytosis.