. Two separate synthetic lipid membranes were prepared using palmitic acid and linoleic acid, singly in each. When both the membranes were tested for their transition temperatures, the one made of palmitic acid showed a higher value than the other. Analyse the situation (
Palmitic acid is a saturated type of fatty acid. On the other hand, linoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid. Both these fatty acids can be used to derive synthetic lipid membranes. If two different synthetic membranes are prepared, one using palmitic acid and the other using linoleic acid, they are likely to have different transition temperatures.
The membrane's transition temperature can be described as the temperature at which the membrane's lipids from the solid or gel phase to the liquid-crystalline phase. The transition temperature is greatly affected by the degree of unsaturation of the lipid components. With an increase in double bonds (as in unsaturated fatty acids), transition temperature decreases. Since linoleic acid is an unsaturated fatty acid, the membrane made with this fatty acid will have a lower transition temperature than a membrane made up of saturated fatty acid.
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