Membrane Structure and Composition Quiz

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What is a common feature of membranes according to the text?

Composed mainly of carbohydrates

Consist mainly of nucleic acids

Contain proteins embedded in lipid bilayers (correct)

Lack fluidity and are rigid structures

Which of the following is true about phospholipids?

Consist of only proteins

Composed of one or more fatty acids (correct)

Always symmetric structures

Do not have distinct functions

What makes phosphatidate the simplest phosphoglyceride?

Derived from glycerol (correct)

Contains a high amount of nucleic acids

It lacks an alcohol moiety

It has no ester bonds

What is a distinguishing feature of phospholipids?

Contain an alcohol attached to the phosphate Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is true regarding membrane fluidity?

Cholesterol decreases membrane fluidity Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of glycolipids in membranes?

Contain linked carbohydrates Signup and view all the answers

What type of lipid contains a sphingosine backbone with one or more sugars attached to the primary –OH group?

Glycolipid Signup and view all the answers

Which lipid is built from four linked hydrocarbon rings and contains an –OH group at one end?

Cholesterol Signup and view all the answers

What type of linkage joins nonpolar chains to glycerol in archaeal membranes?

Ether linkage Signup and view all the answers

What is the stereochemistry of the central glycerol in archaeal membranes?

Inverted Signup and view all the answers

Which type of molecules contain both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic moiety?

Membrane lipids Signup and view all the answers

In which structure are sugar residues always found on the extracellular side of the membrane?

Glycolipid Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of a lipid bilayer?

Two sheets of lipids with hydrophobic tails interacting with each other and hydrophilic head groups facing the aqueous medium Signup and view all the answers

What stabilizes the formation of lipid bilayers in aqueous solutions?

Van der Waals interactions between hydrocarbon tails and hydrophobic interactions Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of phospholipids and glycolipids prevents them from forming small micelles?

Two hydrocarbon tails Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of the amphipathic nature of membrane lipids?

Creation of permeability barriers in lipid bilayers Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cholesterol in lipid bilayers?

Increases membrane fluidity by preventing tight packing of lipids Signup and view all the answers

How do archaeal membranes differ from eukaryotic membranes in terms of lipid composition?

Eukaryotic membranes have ether linkages in their lipids, while archaeal membranes have ester linkages Signup and view all the answers