Glycerophospholipids

BIOCHEMISTRY 3(2+1)
Lesson 8 : Lipids- Introduction, Classification and Functions

Glycerophospholipids

  1. Main components of cell membranes.
  2. Are amphipathic and form bilayers.
  3. All use glycerol 3-phosphate as backbone.
  4. Simplest is phosphatidate = 2 fatty acyl groups esterified to glycerol 3-phosphate.
  5. Often, phosphate is esterified to another alcohol to form...
    • phosphatidylethanolamine
    • phosphatidylserine
    • phosphatidylcholine ( lecithin )
  6. Enzymes called phospholipases break down biological membranes.
  7. Some glycerophospholipids in eukaryotic cells, such as phosphatidylinositols and phosphatidic acids are either precursors of, or are themselves, membrane-derived second messengers
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Last modified: Wednesday, 18 January 2012, 9:30 AM