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hello I need assistance visualizing this question : Phospholipase is an enzyme t

ID: 189419 • Letter: H

Question

hello I need assistance visualizing this question :

Phospholipase is an enzyme that cleaves the phosphate head group off a phospholipid molecule. The plasma membrane is not, however, permeable to the enzyme. Imagine a cell where phospholipid A is present in the layer of phospholipids facing the exterior of the cell, and phospholipid B is present in the layer of phospholipids facing the interior of the cell. After adding phospholipase to the medium in which the cell is growing, what would you expect to find in the fluid surrounding the cell?

-----the correct answer was :the phosphate head group from phospholipid A only.   

I would appreciate a visual as to why the answer is such

Explanation / Answer

Phospholipase cuts the phosphate group from from the phospholipids. In this case the phosphate group of phospholipid A is protruding towards the exterior part and the phosphate group of phospholipid B is towards inside of the cell. As the enzyme is not permeable to the membrane, it will not be able to cleave the phosphate from the phospholipid B. That is why it will only be able to cut phosphate group from phospholipid A and not from phospholipid B.