Question

The degree of saturation of phospholipids in a membrane will affect which of the following functions of phospholipids?

Answer 1

Answer;

The permeability of the membrane

Explanation;

• The fluidity and the permeability of cell membrane must be maintained within a certain range for the cell to function properly.
• The permeability of cell membrane depends on a number of factors, among them is the degree of saturation of fatty acids tails making up phospholipids.
• Phospholipid tails can be saturated or unsaturated. Saturated tails have no double bonds and as a result have straight, unkinked tails, while unsaturated tails have double bonds and, as a result, have crooked, kinked tails.
• Interactions between tails are maximized in the case of saturated tails, thus decreasing membrane fluidity and permeability, while unsaturated tails increases membrane fluidity.