Rattlesnake venom contains a collection of different enzymes, from phospholipases (which hydrolyze phospholipids into fatty acids) to neuraminidases (which hydrolyze the bonds linking sugars to proteins) to proteases (which hydrolyze peptide bonds). When injected into the blood, these enzymes come into contact with molecules on the exterior surface of the body's red blood cells. Which of the following cellular components would be most sensitive to phospholipases? The lipid bilayer Microfilaments Cholesterol

Question

Biology

Tristin Arias

15 July, 12:25

Rattlesnake venom contains a collection of different enzymes, from phospholipases (which hydrolyze phospholipids into fatty acids) to neuraminidases (which hydrolyze the bonds linking sugars to proteins) to proteases (which hydrolyze peptide bonds). When injected into the blood, these enzymes come into contact with molecules on the exterior surface of the body's red blood cells. Which of the following cellular components would be most sensitive to phospholipases? The lipid bilayer Microfilaments Cholesterol

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Jair · Answer 1

Lipid bilayer

Explanation:

Red blood cell is surrounded by a cell membrane that separates its interior from the surrounding medium. The cell membrane is a lipid bilayer and consists of two layers of phospholipids. The polar heads of phospholipids make the surfaces of the cell membrane while their nonpolar tails are buried in its core.

The snake venom has phospholipase enzymes that digest the phospholipids into fatty acids. Digestion of phospholipids of the lipid bilayer of red blood cells would cause leakage of their content into the surroundings and loss of integrity of cells.