Concept explainers
44322-10-1P
To examine: Whether the statement, “Although lipid molecules are free to diffuse in the plane of the bilayer, they cannot flip-flop across the bilayer unless enzyme catalysts called phospholipid translocators are present in the membrane”, is true or false.
Introduction: Lipid bilayer is the basic structure of the plasma membrane that consists of two leaflets of amphipathic lipid molecules. The polar head group of lipids that are in contact with the aqueous medium is called hydrophilic unit, and the non-polar tails that point toward the interior of the membrane is called hydrophobic unit.
Answer to Problem 1P
Correct answer: The statement is true.
Explanation of Solution
The lipid molecules in a lipid bilayer do not flip-flop due to their extensive polar regions that allow the membrane to retain in asymmetry. The phospholipid translocators are the membrane-bound enzymes that catalyze the rapid flip-flop of phospholipid from one monolayer to another monolayer present in the membrane. Hence, the statement is true.
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