Question

Water molecules can cross across the plasma membrane at higher speed when the aquaporins are involved. however bacterial cells would not lyse because they are protected by the?

Answer 1

Bacterial cells are protected from lysing by the cell wall, which provides rigidity and prevents bursting due to osmotic pressure changes when water molecules pass rapidly through the membrane via aquaporins.

Step-by-step explanation:

Water molecules can cross the plasma membrane at a faster rate when aquaporins are present. However, bacterial cells are protected from lysing by the cell wall, which surrounds the plasma membrane and provides structure and rigidity. The cell wall acts as a barrier against extreme osmotic pressure, which occurs due to differences in solute concentrations across the membrane. When the exterior is hypotonic, water enters the bacterial cell, but the stiff cell wall prevents it from bursting. Conversely, in a hypertonic environment, where solutes are in higher concentration outside the cell than inside, water leaves the cell, which may lead to plasmolysis where the cell wall remains intact while the plasma membrane shrinks away.