Question

You generated liposomes with phospholipid and cholesterol from a solution containing NaCl, glucose, and Phenylalanine. You precipitated the liposomes and transferred them into a solution containing distilled water. What do you expect to see after an hour?

The solution will become highly acidic

The liposome will build (-) membrane potential

Liposomes will be inflated

The crystal of NaCl will be formed inside liposomes

you will find the same concentration of phenylalanine inside and outside of liposomes

Answer 1

Answer: Option C is correct.

Explanation:

Liposomes are lipid bilayer vesicles. It is given that they are formed in the presence of glucose, NaCl, and Phe. So, these solutes will be present inside the liposome. Lipid bilayer shows selective permeability. It allows only hydrophobic molecules to pass through. Polar molecules and ions can not pass through the membrane.

When these liposomes are transferred into distilled water, Phe can not move out of the liposome as it is a large molecule even though it is a non-polar molecule. Amino acids have specific transporters in the membrane as plasma membrane is impermeable to them.

The solute concentration is greater inside the liposome compared to the outside water. i.e the internal environment of the liposome is hypertonic compared to the external environment. So, water moves into the liposome leading to its inflation.