Which would you expect for the fatty acyl chains of the membrane phospholipids of bacteria grown at low temperature?
A)Proportion of unsaturated fatty acyl groups increases.
B)Proportion of unsaturated fatty acyl groups decreases.
C)No change in the proportion of saturated versus unsaturated acyl groups.
D)More cholesterol is produced and is inserted between the fatty acyl chains of the membrane.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bacteria grown at low temperatures will incorporate more unsaturated fatty acyl chains into their phospholipids to maintain membrane fluidity. Unsaturated fatty acyl chains have double bonds in their carbon chains which introduce kinks into the structure and make the membrane more flexible. This allows the bacteria to function properly at colder temperatures where the membrane may become too rigid with a high percentage of saturated fatty acyl chains.

Which Would You Expect for the Fatty Acyl Chains of the Membrane