Question

Below is a curve show lipid bilayer fluidity that contains mostly saturated triacylglcerides. The x-axis is temperature in C and the y-axis is degree of fluidity (higher value means the membrane is more fluid). 1_I_I_I_I_I_ Describe a new curve on this graph showing fluidity for a bilayer (membrane) where more unsaturation was incorporated into the lipid bilayer • At low temperature (2) there is less fluidity and at high temperature (12) more fluidity © At low temperature (2) there is more fluidity and at high temperature (12) less fluidity At both high and low temperature, there is more fluidity At both high and low temperature, there is less fluidity

Answer 1

Solution:

Option 3rd " At both high and low temperature, there is more fluidity" is correct.

Explanation:

Due to double bonds the membrane remains fluid at lower temperature as double bonds would prevent packing of the fatty acid of the phospholipids. Similarly at high temperature phospholipids having unsaturated fatty acids make the lipid bilayer more fluidity.

• first option is incorrect as it describes the given graph.
• second option is also incorrect because at high temperature unsaturation also increases the fluidity of the bilayer.
• last option is also incorrect as fluidity will increase in both condition.