Imagine a cell that has a membrane composed mostly of lipids with saturated fatty acid tails, and that this membrane also has low cholesterol content. What are the characteristics of this cell membrane?
A)The lipids would be able to easily transition between the inner and outer layers of the bilayer constituting the cell membrane.
B)The lipids contained in such a membrane would be highly mobile, and in near constant flux.
C)Due to its cholesterol content, the cell membrane would remain fluid even at cold temperatures.
D)The characteristics of this cell membrane will closely mirror those of a membrane composed of only unsaturated fatty acids.
E)None of the answer options is correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Saturated fatty acid tails in the lipids make the membrane less fluid because they can pack closely together, and low cholesterol content also decreases membrane fluidity, especially at lower temperatures. Cholesterol acts as a fluidity buffer, making membranes more fluid at low temperatures and less fluid at high temperatures. Therefore, none of the provided options accurately describe the characteristics of a membrane composed mostly of lipids with saturated fatty acid tails and low cholesterol content.

Imagine a Cell That Has a Membrane Composed Mostly of Lipids