Biology 2382B Lecture : Membrane & Membrane Function.docx
9 Dec 2012
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Phospholipids are amphipathic they spontaneously form lipid bilayers in aqueous solutions (energetically favourable) properties of fatty acids confer properties onto the bilayers (i. e. how fluid bilayer is = saturation/size of fatty acids) . I. e. provide an internal environment different in chemical composition from the external environment occur in a localized manner. Phospholipid amphipathic molecule composed of a long hydrocarbon chain (fatty acid) attached to a polar head group. Often use the notation cx:y where x = number of carbon molecules, More than one double bond = polyunsaturated y = number of double bonds. 2 main groups of phospholipids: phosphoglycerides, sphingomyelin. All phosphoglycerides but they differ in the head group that is attached to the phosphate . Sphingolipids - derived from sphingosine (amino alcohol with a long carbon chain attached) Glycolipids are found most abundant in nervous tissue . Sphingomyelin (sm) a phospholipid with sphingosine as a molecular scaffold (instead of glycerol)
