An important group of peripheral membrane proteins are enzymes such as the phospholipases that cleave the head groups of phospholipids. What properties must these enzymes exhibit?

Question

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Enzymes such as phospholipases, which cleave the head groups of phospholipids, must exhibit water solubility. This is because the head groups of phospholipids are located on the outer surface of the membrane, which is hydrophilic, and therefore the enzyme must be able to interact with this environment to perform its function. Lipid solubility (A) would make the enzyme less able to interact with the hydrophilic environment, and resistance to degradation (B) and independence from cofactor interaction (D) are not necessarily essential properties for this type of enzyme. Membrane-spanning domains (E) are only necessary for integral membrane proteins, not peripheral membrane proteins like phospholipases.

An Important Group of Peripheral Membrane Proteins Are Enzymes Such