Biology 2382B Lecture Notes - Plasmalogen, Alkanolamine, Sterol

• School: Western University
• Department: Biology
• Course: Biology 2382B
• Professor: Robert Cumming

Document Summary

Membganes define what a cell is allow specialized cellular functions to occur in a localized manner: everything of the cell is localized within the membrane. Lots of proteins in membranes, some are made up of mostly membranes. Due to amphipathicity, phospholipids spontaneously form lipid bilayers in aqueous solution where properties of the fatty acids confer properties onto the bilayers. Long hydrocarbon chain attached to a polar carboxyl head group: amphipathic. Fatty carbon tail and acid group at the end. Often cx:y where x = number of carbon molecules and y = number of double bonds: # of carbons vary often these carbons are linked together by single bonds. More than one double bond = polyunsaturated. Fatty acid chain composition and the composition of the head groups will both effect the functionality of the membrane. Tm (melting point temperature) increases with chain length, decreases with unsaturation. Saturated chains can tightly pack there are numerous van der waal"s forces.