Next up are phospholipids!
os • Ph
lipid ph o
Phospholipids have a structure in which one of the three fatty acids of a neutral lipid is replaced by a chemical compound containing phosphoric acid.
One of these things is not like the others.
By the way, Kumi, we already talked about phospholipids once, Remember?
Umm...not really...
Remember when we talked about the cell membrane?
Guuuh
It consists mainly of phospholipids! Phospholipids have a property called amphipathicity. The two fatty acid parts are hydrophobic, while the chemical compound part containing phosphoric acid is hydrophilic. Because of this, a two-layer membrane can be created with the hydrophobic part facing inward and the hydrophilic part facing outward.
phospholipid
phosphoric acid
hydrophilic
Fatty acid
hydrophobic
hydrophilic
phospho lipid Variable polar head*
Hydrophobic * A phospholipid can have a variable polar group as its head. A phospholipid that is based on glycerol is called a glycerophospholipid. sphingophospholipids have sphingosine heads.
Hydrophilic means it readily mixes with water. Hydrophobic means it does not readily mix with water. Amphipathic means that it's made from both of these kinds of substances.