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A-Level Biology OCR A

Cholesterol Fluidity Phospholipids Bilayer Preventing End Interacts Explain

Cholesterol enhances membrane fluidity by preventing close phospholipid packing and stabilizes the bilayer by interacting with both the polar heads and nonpolar tails of phospholipids.

Cholesterol affects membrane fluidity by preventing phospholipids from packing too closely, and it stabilizes the bilayer through interactions between its hydrophilic/hydrophobic ends and the phospholipids.

Front Explain how cholesterol affects the fluidity and stability of membranes.
Back Effect of cholesterol on membranes:
  • Chol molecules are positioned between phospholipids in the bilayer preventing them from aligning too closely together and therefore preventing solidification - maintains fluidity
  • Hydrophilic end interacts with the heads and hydrophobic end interacts with tails, pulling them together - stabilises bilayer as it is attracted to the phospholipids

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