A cell biologist measures membrane fluidity over a temperature range in cells with normal cholesterol versus cholesterol-depleted cells. The graph shows the result. The biologist then asks how cholesterol modulates fluidity at extremes of temperature.
The role of cholesterol in animal cell membranes is BEST described as:
- A
A receptor for hormonal signaling only
- B
A channel for water transport
- C
An enzyme that synthesizes new phospholipids
- Dcheck_circle
A buffering agent that decreases fluidity at high temperatures and increases it at low temperatures
Explanation
Cholesterol restricts phospholipid motion at high temperatures and prevents tight packing at low temperatures, stabilizing fluidity across a temperature range.