Biology 2581B Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Lipid Bilayer, Membrane Fluidity, Sphingosine

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Lipids: (about 50% of the mass of a cell membrane) are amphiphilic molecules meaning they have a hydrophilic/polar head and a hydrophobic/nonpolar end. They can move within their bilayer (fluid mosaic model). Lipid bilayers are asymmetric: the lipid composition of the two separate monolayers is strikingly different. They often differ in charge, which is very important in signalling (bringing extracellular signals inside the cell): phospholipids: most abundant, their polar head contains a phosphate group and their tale is made of two hydrocarbon tails (fatty acids). One tail can have cis-double bonds, which makes it unsaturated and creates a kink in the tail. The other does not contain double bonds and is therefore saturated. Difference in length and saturation influences how the phospholipids are packed together. Serves as a cell receptor site: glycolipids: have sugars attached instead of a phosphate-linked head group. Are found exclusively in the monolayer facing away from the cytosol.

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