Question

How will the properties of a biological membrane change if the fatty acid tails of the phospholipids are converted from saturated to unsaturated chains?

Answer 1

Some of the properties that will change as the biological membrane composed primarily of phospholipids change from the saturated to unsaturated fatty acid tails of the phospholipid would include, permeability of the membrane, this will cause the membrane to be more fluid and not remain as controlling of the materials. The membrane will ultimately become poor in regulating ions and other materials from coming into the cell, as the phospholipids are not tightly packed due to them being unsaturated and having carbon double bonds within them. This can also affect the overall shape of the plasma membrane as well, causing it to be not as structured, and more fluid,