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Multiple Choice
Which of the following molecules is able to increase the rigidity and decrease the flexibility of a membrane?
A
Phospholipids
B
Cholesterol
C
Proteins
D
Glycolipids
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the structure of the cell membrane, which is primarily composed of a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol, and glycolipids.
Recognize that phospholipids form the basic structure of the membrane, providing fluidity and flexibility due to their hydrophilic heads and hydrophobic tails.
Identify the role of cholesterol in the membrane. Cholesterol is interspersed within the phospholipid bilayer and plays a crucial role in modulating membrane fluidity.
Cholesterol fits between the phospholipids in the membrane, where it can increase rigidity by restricting the movement of the fatty acid chains, thus decreasing membrane fluidity.
Conclude that among the given options, cholesterol is the molecule that increases the rigidity and decreases the flexibility of the membrane by stabilizing the phospholipid bilayer.