Question

The membrane fluidity is maintained in cold weather by

• A. Increasing the proportion of integral proteins
• B. Increasing the number of phospholipids with unsaturated hydrocarbon tails
• C. Increasing the concentration of cholesterol in membrane
• D. Increasing the number of phospholipids with saturated hydrocarbon tails

Answer 1

The correct option is D Increasing the number of phospholipids with saturated hydrocarbon tails

The unsaturated fatty acids (or hydrocarbon tails) present in the cell membrane gets compressed in cold conditions which pushes the adjacent phospholipid molecules away and thus, it helps to maintain fluidity in the membrane.

So, the correct answer is 'Increasing number of phospholipids with unsaturated hydrocarbon tails'.