cholesterol

• Cholesterol

  Steroid molecule in some plasma membranes; connects phospholipids & reduces fluidity to make bilayer more stable
• Cholesterol will reduce the effect of high temperatures in the following ways:

  • Binds to the hydrophobic fatty acid tails of the phospholipids
  • Causing them to pack more tightly / stabilising the membrane
• State roles of cholesterol in living organisms.

  • regulates fluidity of membranes
  • (converted to) steroid molecules
  • waterproofing the skin
  • making Vitamin D
  • making bile
• Name two molecules that combine with cholesterol to form LDLs.

  saturated fats and protein