Question
What part of the plasma membrane is hydrophobic? proteins phospholipid "heads" phospholipid "tails" sugar groups
Ask by Hills Phillips. in the United States
Jan 24,2025
Real Tutor Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The phospholipid "tails" of the plasma membrane are hydrophobic.
Solution
The **phospholipid "tails"** of the plasma membrane are hydrophobic.
Here's a brief overview of each component:
- **Phospholipid "tails"**: These are long fatty acid chains that repel water, making them hydrophobic. They face inward, away from the aqueous environment, forming the core of the lipid bilayer.
- **Phospholipid "heads"**: These are hydrophilic (water-attracting) and face outward towards the aqueous environments both inside and outside the cell.
- **Proteins**: While some parts of membrane proteins are hydrophobic (interacting with the fatty tails), other regions are hydrophilic. Thus, proteins have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions.
- **Sugar groups**: These are hydrophilic and are typically found on the outer surface of the membrane, involved in cell-cell recognition and interaction.
**Therefore, the hydrophobic component of the plasma membrane is the phospholipid "tails".**
**Answer:** Phospholipid “tails”
Reviewed and approved by the UpStudy tutoring team
Like
error msg
Explain 
Simplify this solution Mind Expander
The hydrophobic part of the plasma membrane is the phospholipid "tails." These tails consist of long hydrocarbon chains that repel water, helping to create a barrier that separates the internal environment of the cell from the outside. This unique property is crucial for maintaining cellular integrity and function! On the other hand, the phospholipid "heads" are hydrophilic, meaning they love water. This creates a bilayer structure with the tails facing inward, shielded from water, while the heads interact with the aqueous environment. It’s a beautifully simple setup that allows cells to control what enters and exits!
