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phospholipid
phospholipid
phospholipid (phosphatide) One of a group of lipids having both a phosphate group and one or more fatty acids.
Glycerophospholipids (or
phosphoglycerides) are based on
glycerol; the three hydroxyl groups are esterified with two fatty acids and a phosphate group, which may itself be bound to one of a variety of simple organic groups (e.g. in
lecithin (phosphatidylcholine) it is choline; see formula).
Sphingolipids are based on the alcohol sphingosine and contain only one fatty acid linked to an amino group. With their hydrophilic polar phosphate groups and long hydrophobic hydrocarbon ‘tails’, phospholipids readily form membrane-like structures in water. They are a major component of plasma membranes (see
lipid bilayer).
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phospholipid
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
phospholipid , lipid that in its simplest form is composed of glycerol bonded to...phosphate. For example, it may be connected with choline; the resulting phospholipid is called phosphatidylcholine, or lecithin. Other phospholipids include...
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Membrane Structure
Book article from: Biology
...Cellular membranes consist mainly of phospholipid assembled into a stable, sheetlike...under normal cellular conditions once phospholipid has been synthesized. To understand...appreciate the amphipathic nature of phospholipid structure. An amphipathic lipid is...
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Membrane Fluidity
Book article from: World of Microbiology and Immunology
...microorganisms tend to be a type of lipid termed phospholipid. A phospholipid consists of fatty acid chains that terminate...two so-called leaflets, or a bilayer, of phospholipid. Essentially the membrane is a two dimensional...
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Cell, Eukaryotic
Book article from: Genetics
...structures, made of two layers of phospholipid molecules, built from phosphoric...fatty acids. One end of the phospholipid molecules (the exterior head...freely through the cell's phospholipid membrane. Instead, most ions...
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Cell Membrane Transport
Book article from: World of Microbiology and Immunology
...fluid mosaic model, is comprised of a phospholipid lipid bilayer with proteins —...x2014; interspersed within the phospholipid bilayer. Varieties of channels exist...Transport proteins found within the phospholipid bilayer of the cell membrane can move...
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