The compounds in biological membranes that form a barrier to the movement of hydrophilic materials across the membrane are
A) integral membrane proteins.
B) carbohydrates.
C) lipids.
D) nucleic acids.
E) peripheral membrane proteins.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lipids, specifically phospholipids, form the main barrier in biological membranes as they have hydrophobic tails that face inward and hydrophilic heads that face outward, creating a barrier that prevents the movement of hydrophilic materials across the membrane. Integral membrane proteins and peripheral membrane proteins are involved in various functions of the membrane but are not the main components of the barrier. Carbohydrates and nucleic acids do not contribute significantly to the barrier function of the membrane.

The Compounds in Biological Membranes That Form a Barrier to the Movement