Explain how branched-chain fatty acids affect the fluidity of membranes and rank the following fatty acids in the order of increasing solubility in water.
1. Branched-chain fatty acids are found in some bacterial membrane lipids. Would their presence increase or decrease the fluidity of the membranes and Why?
2. Rank the following in order of increasing solubility in water: triacylglycerol, a diacylglycerol, and a monoacylglycerol, all containing only palmitic acid (16: 0).