2.) a. Rather than a block-like structure, each phospholipid would look more like a cone. This would result in the formation of a ring of phospholipids (a micelle) rather than a bilayer.
b. This would cause the whole bilayer to be thinner, resulting in a smaller hydrophobic reigon. Some membrane proteins might not be able to fit, and the ones that did would be able to move about the membrane more ealisy.
c. Saturated fatty acids are able to compact themselves more eaisly than unsaturated fatty acids, and so a bilayer made of saturated fatty acids would have a higher melting point and be more rigid than normal.
d. This would have the opposite effect of having a bilayer made of saturated fatty acids. The bilayer would be more fluid and have a lower melting point.
e. It would depend upon the arrangement of these double saturated/ double unsaturated phospholipids. Areas of the membrane would vary in fluidity and therefore be inconsistent.
f. The two layers would be bonded together by a stronger force, and therefore it would be more difficult to seperate them. However the general properties of the bilayer would remain the same.
3.) a. CP + S --> CPxS --> CP + S
b. The corresponding equation for solute transport would be the same, however [S]= solute concentration. V0= initial rate of transport by the carrier protein, Vmax= max rate of transport, KM= constant.
c. No, for the reason that the Michaelis-Menten equation applies only to non-reversible reactions. Channel proteins are involved in a reversible process.
4.) a. False. Symport is the transport of two molecules in the same direction, while antiport moves molecules in opposite directions. By reversing the orientation, the only thing that would change is the direction of the molecules-- symporters would still move them one direction, while antiporters would still move them in opposite directions.