Q1. Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in
ID: 59890 • Letter: Q
Question
Q1. Imagine a new type of cell was discovered on Mars in an organism growing in benzene, a nonpolar liquid. The cell had a lipid bilayer made of phospholipids, but its structure was very different from that of our cell membranes. A) Draw what might be possible structure for this new type of membrane. What might be the characteristic features of phospholipid head groups? B) What properties would you expect to find in membrane proteins imbedded in this membrane? C) How might you isolate and visualize these unusual membranes?
Explanation / Answer
A) Head groups in phospholipids are hydrophilic, and hence they have the tendency to interact with the hydrophilic extracellular environment. But, in the given case, the organism is living in benzene, a non-polar liquid. In order to live in such condition, the organism must contain phospholipids whose head groups should be hydrophobic.
B) The proteins embedded in this membrane can be hydrophobic at end and hydrophilic at the other; so that they can interact with both hydrophobic external environment, and hydrophilic internal environment.
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