A characteristic of plasma membranes that helps them fuse during vesicle formation and phagocytosis is the
A) ratio of one protein molecule for every 25 phospholipid molecules.
B) capacity of lipids to associate and maintain a bilayer organization.
C) constant fatty acid chain length and degree of saturation.
D) ability of phospholipid molecules to flip over and trade places with other phospholipid molecules.
E) asymmetrical distribution of membrane proteins.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The capacity of lipids to associate and maintain a bilayer organization is what allows plasma membranes to fuse during vesicle formation and phagocytosis. This is because the hydrophobic tails of the phospholipids are able to interact with each other to form a stable bilayer, while the hydrophilic heads remain exposed to the aqueous surroundings. This property is essential for the formation of vesicles, which are surrounded by a single phospholipid bilayer.

A Characteristic of Plasma Membranes That Helps Them Fuse During