Why are membranes with unsaturated fatty acids in their components more flexible and fluid?
A)Unsaturated fatty acids pack closely together to form ordered arrays.
B)Unsaturated fatty acids bend at the double bond,preventing close packing.
C)Saturated fatty acids have a "kink" that produces more fluid aggregates.
D)Unsaturated fatty acids have cis double bonds that prevent formation of a "kink."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Unsaturated fatty acids have a bend or kink at the double bond which prevents close packing of fatty acid chains, thus increasing fluidity and flexibility of the membrane. Saturated fatty acids, in contrast, pack closely together in an ordered array, making the membrane more rigid.

Why Are Membranes with Unsaturated Fatty Acids in Their Components