Which of the following increases the strength of the hydrophobic interactions in lipid bilayers and thus makes them less permeable to polar molecules?
A) the presence of double bonds
B) increasing temperature
C) removing cholesterol
D) increasing length of the hydrocarbon chains

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing the length of the hydrocarbon chains in lipid bilayers increases the strength of the hydrophobic interactions, making the bilayer less permeable to polar molecules. This is because the longer hydrocarbon chains allow for tighter packing, which reduces the available space for polar molecules to pass through. Double bonds and removing cholesterol would not necessarily increase the strength of hydrophobic interactions, and increasing temperature could actually disrupt the structure of the bilayer and make it more permeable to polar molecules.

Which of the Following Increases the Strength of the Hydrophobic