what is the function of cholesterol in the plasma membrane?
Cholesterol makes the membrane more fluid and stable. It is a molecule which is both hydrophilic (due to the polar -OH group) and hydrophobic (due to hydrocarbon rings and chains). It gets sandwiched between two phospholipids of the plasma membrane.
Cholesterol bridges plasma membranes and changes how rigid or fluid it is. The more Cholesterol the stiffer the membrane. Cholesterol is an important part of membranes. Many p â¦ eople think cholesterol is bad because too much cholesterol in your diet can lead to health problems but you obviously need small quantities to make healthy membranes.