How do you explain the change in membrane permeability as temperature increases?

Generally, increasing the temperature increases membrane permeability. At temperatures below 0 oC the phospholipids in the membrane don't have much energy and so they can't move much, which means that they're closely packed together and the membrane is rigid. Between 0 oC and 45 oC the permeability increases as phospholipids start to move around more, as they have more energy, and therefore they're no longer as tightly packed, meaning that the membrane is partially permeable. At temperatures about 45 oC the phospholipid bilayer starts to melt and the membrane becomes more permaeable. Water inside the cell expands, putting pressure on the membrane, and transport proteins deform (due to denaturing of proteins) so they can't control what enters or leaves the cell. 

EF

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Describe the processes and forces that allow water movement up a plant stem.


Outline the circulation of blood and the physical changes of the heart during the cardiac cycle.


Explain the lock and key enzyme hypothesis


Describe the movement of ions, and changes in potential, across the nerve cell membrane during depolarisation and repolarisation.