Question

Which of the following is true about compounds present in the acid-insoluble pool?

• A. They have a molecular weight more than 1000 daltons
• B. They are called macromolecules
• C. Lipid molecules weigh less than 1000 Daltons but still belong to the acid-insoluble pool
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is D All of the above

When living tissue is ground in trichloroacetic acid using a mortar and pestle and the slurry obtained is filtered using cheesecloth, two fractions are obtained after filtration. One of the fraction is soluble in acid whereas the other is insoluble in acid and is found on the cheesecloth.

The molecules in the acid-soluble pool have a molecular weight ranging from 18 to 800 daltons. Whereas the molecules in the acid-insoluble pool weigh above 1000 daltons. The molecules in the acid-soluble fraction are called as micromolecules or biomicromolecules. The molecules in the acid-insoluble pool are called macromolecules or biomacromolecules.

But lipids have a molecular weight less than 1000 daltons but still are found in the acid-insoluble pool. This is due to the cluster that lipids form, which becomes insoluble in acid.