A phospholipid bilayer with equal amounts of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids displays a specific permeability to glucose. What effect will increasing the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the bilayer have on the membrane's permeability to glucose?
A) Permeability to glucose will increase.
B) Permeability to glucose will decrease.
C) Permeability to glucose will stay the same.
D) Permeability will decrease initially then increase as the bilayer fills with glucose.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Increasing the proportion of unsaturated fatty acids in the phospholipid bilayer introduces more kinks into the fatty acid tails, leading to a more fluid and less tightly packed membrane. This increased fluidity allows for easier passage of molecules like glucose, thereby increasing the membrane's permeability to glucose.

A Phospholipid Bilayer with Equal Amounts of Saturated and Unsaturated