Can cholesterol form micelles and bilayers?

1 Answer

Answer :

Cholesterol does not form micelles because it is not sufficiently amphiphilic (even though it does have an OH group) and its flat, rigid, fused-ring structure gives a solid rather than a liquid hydrocarbon phase at physiological temperatures. Such fluidity is required for micelle formation. However, cholesterol can form mixed micelles with amphiphilic lipids, and it enters monolayers as well where it constitutes ∼25% of the mass of the lipid bilayer in the plasma membranes of mammalian cells. 

Related questions

Description : What are the structural and chemical reasons why bile salts don’t form typical micelles?

Last Answer : Although bile salts possess a polar head group, the hydrocarbon tail usually contains polar hydroxyl groups. Therefore the rigid ring system gives a tightly packed, almost solid, nonpolar phase rather ... liquid one. However, like cholesterol, bile salts can form mixed micelles with phospholipids. 

Description : What is the nature of the interactions between biomolecules?

Last Answer : Interactions between biomolecules depend on the forming and breaking of chemical bonds. The covalent bond is the strongest chemical bond. It links individual atoms within a molecule and ... specificity, and response to water. Although noncovalent interactions are weaker than covalent bonds .

Description : What is inside a living cell?

Last Answer : The inside of a cell is crowded with molecules, and these are in continuous vigorous motion that is driven by thermal energy. In prokaryotic cells the cytoplasm is the only compartment; in ... ones. It is the diffusion and collisions between molecules that enable biochemical reactions to occur. 

Description : Why is water such an important molecule in living systems?

Last Answer : The strength and specificity of interactions between biological molecules depend on the medium in which they reside. The major biological solvent is water, although fat deposits readily dissolve ... gas at normal atmospheric temperatures and pressures, like dinitrogen of molecular weight 28. 

Description : Is it strictly correct to call proline an amino acid? 

Last Answer : No. The side chain of proline bends around and is covalently linked to the backbone nitrogen atom replacing one of the hydrogen atoms. Thus it is actually an imino acid. 

Description : What is the difference between a sugar and a carbohydrate? 

Last Answer : Sugar is a term that is sometimes used incorrectly to refer to carbohydrates in general, because many carbohydrates have a sweet taste. But not all carbohydrates are sugars, e.g., starch. ... specifically to sucrose, or perhaps to a few other simple carbohydrates such as fructose and glucose. 

Description : β-D-Glucose is the most prevalent monosaccharide in the bloodstream. It can react with many differentcompounds. What is the chemical basis of this reactivity?

Last Answer : Glucose is an aldehyde and hence is a reducing compound. The aldehyde group is reactive and can be reduced to form an alcohol, can be oxidized to form a carboxylic acid, or can react with many other compounds to form a glucosyl adduct with them.  

Description : Bile, an emulsifier liquid, is made by the liver and later stored within the gallbladder and released in the duodenum. Bile is composed of bile salts, cholesterol and bile pigments. ... enzymes that break fats into simpler fatty acids and glycerol. Digestion System - Image Diversity: gallbladder

Last Answer : What is the adnexal organ of the digestive system in which bile is stored?

Description : Phospholipids are important cell membrane components since (A) They have glycerol (B) Form bilayers in water (C) Have polar and non-polar portions (D) Combine covalently with proteins

Last Answer : Answer : C

Description : Phospholipids are important cell membrane components because (A) They have glycerol (B) They can form bilayers in water (C) They have both polar and non polar potions (D) They combine covalently with proteins

Last Answer : Answer : C

Description : All membranes of free-living organisms have phospholipid bilayers, but exception is A- bacteria B- fungi C- archaea D- protozoa

Last Answer : archaea

Description : What are the three major components of glycerophospholipids, the main component of lipid bilayers that comprise cellular membranes?

Last Answer : Glycerol, a phosphate group, fatty acid chains

Description : Under ambient conditions, which among the following surfactants will form micelles in aqueous solution at lowest molar concentration ?

Last Answer : Under ambient conditions, which among the following surfactants will form micelles in aqueous solution at lowest molar ... N (CH_(3))_(3)Br^(-)`

Description : Among the following, which surfactant will form micelles in aqueous solution at the lowest molar concentration at ambient conditions?

Last Answer : Among the following, which surfactant will form micelles in aqueous solution at the lowest molar concentration at ambient ... (+)(CH_(3))_(3)Br^(-)`

Description : What are micellae/micelles (micelle)? -Biology

Last Answer : answer:

Description : Surfacetant molecules can cluster together as micelles, which are colloid sized cluster of molecules. Micelles from only above critical micelle concen

Last Answer : Surfacetant molecules can cluster together as micelles, which are colloid sized cluster of molecules. ... . `DeltaS` of micelle formation is negative

Description : Give the conect order of initials T(true) or F(false) for following statements [3] I : Lyophobic sols are irreversible sols. II : Micelles fonnation t

Last Answer : Give the conect order of initials T(true) or F(false) for following statements [3] I : Lyophobic sols are irreversible ... F C. T T T T D. T T F T

Description : Assertion (A): Micelles are formed by surfactant molecules above the critical micellization concentration `(CMC)` . Reason(R): The conductivity of a s

Last Answer : Assertion (A): Micelles are formed by surfactant molecules above the critical micellization concentration ` ... If both Assertion & Reason are False.

Description : Which one of the following forms micelles in aqueous solution above certain concentration?

Last Answer : Which one of the following forms micelles in aqueous solution above certain ... Dodecyltrimethyl ammonium chloride D. Pyridinium chloride

Description : which of the following forms cationic micelles above certain concentration?

Last Answer : which of the following forms cationic micelles above certain concentration? A. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide ... sulphonate C. Sodium acetate D. Urea

Description : The formation of micelles occurs only beyond a certain temperature. What is the temperature called ?

Last Answer : Ans. Kraft temperature  

Description : Out of glucose, urea and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, which one forms micelles in aqueous solution above certain concentration ?

Last Answer : Ans. Dodecyl trimethyl ammonium chloride. 

Description : What happens to the micelles? 

Last Answer : Fatty acids and monoacyl glycerides from the micelles passively diffuse into the mucosal cell.

Description : What are micelles?

Last Answer : The micelles are spherical particles with a hydrophilic exterior and hydrophobic interior core . Monoglycerides, long chain fatty acids, cholesterol, phospholipids and lysophospholipids are incorporated into molecular aggregates to form mixed micelles.

Description : Which one of the following is the correct matching of the site of action on the given substrate, the enzyme acting upon it and the end product? (a) Small intestine : Proteins Pepsin  →  ... Trypsin  →  Monoglycerides (d) Small intestine : Starch α-Amylase  →  Disaccharide (maltose)

Last Answer : (d) Small intestine : Starch α-Amylase  →  Disaccharide