Question

How does membrane fluidity effect signal transduction?

Answer 1

Membrane fluidity is defined as the ability of the proteins and lipids to drift in the cell membrane.

1. Lipid composition: Cholesterol and long chain saturated fatty acids are packed tightly together resluting in less fluid membranes making delay in signal transduction. On the other hand, Unsaturated fatty acids or those with shorter chain tend to increase membrane fluidity thereby increasing signal transduction

2. Non polar substances like general anesthetics, some sedatives, hypnotics act by inserting into cell membranes and reduce the fluidity of the cell membrane which decreases the signal transduction. On the other hand, polar substances act in a reverse way by increasing the signal transduction

3. Temperature: Membrane fluidity reduces under cold temperatures as the molecules move slowly at lower temperatures reducing the signal transduction. This explains the reason behind the numbness of the fingers when placed in cold water

4. Length of fatty acids: Some organisms which undergo hibernation during the winter, replace saturated with unsaturated fatty acids with short chain that help in their survival and improve the signal transduction which is otherwise sluggish and detrimental to their survival in such unfavorable conditions.