What makes a molecule disrupt cell membranes?

However, many drug molecules are lipophillic, which means they can pass through membranes quite easily. One such molecule is ethanol, which we colloquially call "alcohol". It passes through the blood brain barrier with ease. read more

The membrane of a cell is composed of a phospholipid bilayer that looks something like this: Hydrophilic"heads" face outwards, and the hydrophobic"tails" face inwards. The phospholipid bilayer is not static, its moving at all times. read more

The permeability of a cell membrane is affected by the polarity, electric charge and molar mass of the molecules that diffuse through it. The phosolipid layers that make up the cell membrane also affect its permeability. read more

A number of NIH and NCI studies from a decade or so ago showed that ethanol disrupts and disorders cell membranes throughout the body, and this may have a direct relation to its intoxication effects. It also may be genetic that some are resistant to this effect, or others are sensitive to it, which may relate to alcoholism as a disease. read more