Factors affecting membrane structure

Question 1

What are the two factors which affect membrane structure?

Answer 1

Temperature and solvents

Question 2

What happens to the phospholipids as the temperature increases?

Answer 2

The phospholipids will have more kinetic energy and will move more.

Question 3

What does the increased movement of the phospholipids result in?

Answer 3

The membrane will become more fluid as it begins to loose its structure

Question 4

How does the increased fluidity of the membrane affect its permeability?

Answer 4

The membrane would become more permeable (more easier for particles to cross it)

Question 5

What happens to carrier and channel proteins when the temperature increases?

Answer 5

They will become denatured

Question 6

What does the denaturing of the channel and carrier proteins affect?

Answer 6

The permeability of the membrane

Question 7

How do less polar organic solvents affect the structure of the membrane?

Answer 7

The non-polar solvents are able to enter the membrane and disrupt the position f the phospholipids.

Question 8

What happens if increased organic solvents disrupt the structure of the membrane?

Answer 8

The membrane becomes more fluid and more permeable

Question 9

Membrane Permeability Beetroot Practical Video

Answer 9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc3Mg0Yc7kI