In: Biology
Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids :-
• Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds in their hydrocarbon
tails.
• Unsaturated fatty acids have double bonds in their hydrocarbon
tails.
Fatty acids in membrane :-
• Fatty acids are building blocks of membrane and arranged in a
bilayer.
• In this bilayer head of fatty acid is directed outwards and tails
directed between the heads.
Saturated fatty acid in membrane :-
• Saturated fatty acids has no double bonds and have straight
chains of hydrocarbon tails.
• Because of that straight structure of hydrocarbon tails, fatty
acids tails are arranged nore efficiently and have good packing of
membrane.
• This good packing and arrangement of tails result into decreased
fluidity and flexibility of membrane.
Unsaturated fatty acid in membrane :-
• Unsaturated fatty acid has double bonds and these double bonds
creates kink or bend in hydrocarbon tails.
• Because of these bends, now hydrocarbon tails are arranged less
efficiently and have loose packing of membrane.
• This loose packing results into increased fluidity and
flexibility of membrane.