How Does Cholesterol Maintain Membrane Fluidity?

💡 The Answer

• Cholesterol molecules are embedded within the phospholipid bilayer, adding stability.
• At high temperatures, cholesterol reduces membrane fluidity by limiting phospholipid movement.
• At low temperatures, cholesterol prevents the membrane from becoming too rigid by interfering with fatty acid packing.
• This buffering effect allows the membrane to function across a range of temperatures.