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Biochem ch10

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Question:

How cholesterol contributes to membrane fluidity and structure?

Author: Shay 1vcc



Answer:

Cholesterol, the major sterol in animal tissues, is amphipathic, with a polar head group (the hydroxyl group at C-3) and a non- polar hydrocarbon body (the steroid nucleus and the hydrocarbon side chain at C-17) It lies alongside the phospholipids in the membrane and tends to dampen the effects of temperature on the membrane. Thus, cholesterol functions as a buffer, preventing lower temperatures from inhibiting fluidity and preventing higher temperatures from increasing fluidity too much.


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Shay 1vcc
Shay 1vcc