alleryStart learning →What distinguishes the lipids of an archaeal plasma membrane from a bacterial one?
AFatty acids replace all their glycerol
BThey lack any lipid component at all
CThey are built only from peptidoglycan
DPhytanyl chains replace the fatty acids
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: D. Phytanyl chains replace the fatty acids
1. A bacterial membrane is a bilayer of phospholipids whose fatty acids are linked to glycerol.
2. In archaeal membranes, isoprene or phytanyl chains linked to glycerol take the place of those fatty acids.
3. Those phytanyl sidechains are branched rather than linear.
4. An ether bond rather than an ester bond joins the archaeal lipid to its glycerol.
5. Some archaeal membranes are lipid monolayers instead of bilayers, so lipids are certainly present.
6. Peptidoglycan is a wall material and never builds a membrane, which rules out the third option.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea", section 22.2 Structure of Prokaryotes_
Keep practising Bacteriology
Browse all Bacteriology questions for NCK Licensing Exam (Nursing), or explore more Microbiology topics.
Related questions
Catch the prokaryotic parts onlySplit helpful microbes from harmfulName the microbe behind each clueBuild a biofilm stage by stageSort the two Gram stain groupsWhich structure lets some soil bacteria survive heat and drought until conditions improve?Commensal bacteria on the skin and in the gut benefit their human host in which way?How do bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa help clear mercury pollution?