O Macmillan Learning Membrane lipids in tissue samples

Last updated: 4/29/2023

O Macmillan Learning Membrane lipids in tissue samples obtained from different parts of a reindeer s leg have different fatty acid compositions Membrane lipids from tissue near the hooves contain a larger proportion of unsaturated fatty acids than those from tissue in the upper leg What is the significance of this observation O Unsaturated lipids have lower melting temperatures so they remain fluid at the lower temperatures found in the distal portions of the leg Cholesterol interacts with the unsaturated sphingolipids and phospholipids to make them less fluid Unsaturated lipids have higher melting temperatures so they help form the solid components of the hoof At physiological temperatures there are more unsaturated liquid ordered L lipids in the lower leg and more liquid disordered La lipids in the upper leg