When biological membranes are frozen and then fractured, they tend to break along the middle of the bilayer. The best explanation for this is that

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hydrophobic interactions between the fatty acid tails of the two phospholipid monolayers are the weakest interactions in the membrane, which is why they tend to break along this plane when frozen and fractured. The integral membrane proteins and carbon-carbon bonds of the phospholipid tails are not directly involved in this process. Water freezing in the middle of the bilayer is also not a major factor since the bilayer is impermeable to water.

When Biological Membranes Are Frozen and Then Fractured, They Tend