Because fatty acids are amphipathic, with hydrophobic tails, they
A) form bilayers in water with tails facing inward in the membrane.
B) form bilayers in water with tails facing outward from the membrane.
C) catalyze the synthesis of proteins.
D) catalyze the synthesis of nucleic acids.
E) enable cellular reproduction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fatty acids are amphipathic, with hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic heads. In water, fatty acids form bilayers with hydrophobic tails facing inward towards one another, and the hydrophilic heads facing outward towards the water. This creates a stable lipid bilayer, which serves as the main component of cell membranes.

Because Fatty Acids Are Amphipathic, with Hydrophobic Tails, They