Factors affecting membrane permeability

• What factors affect membrane permeability?

  Solvents and temperature
• How do some solvents affect membrane permeability?

  Some solvents increase permeability more than others
• How does increasing the concentration of a solvent affect permeability?

  It will increase membrane permeability
• What happens to phospholipids below 0°C?

  They have low energy and don't move much
• What is the state of the membrane below 0°C?

  The membrane becomes rigid
• What happens to channel and carrier proteins below 0°C?

  They denature
• What can form between 0°C and 45°C?

  Phospholipids move around
• What is the state of the membrane between 0°C and 45°C?

  It is partially permeable
• What happens to the phospholipid bilayer above 45°C?

  It starts to break down
• What happens to membrane permeability above 45°C?

  The membrane becomes more permeable
• What happens to water inside the cell when the membrane becomes more permeable?

  Water expands
• What happens to channel and carrier proteins above 45°C?

  They denature
• What is the consequence of denatured proteins in the membrane?

  They can't control what enters or leaves
• What is the overall effect of increasing permeability?

  It disrupts membrane function