IMPORTANT POINTS
- Phospholipids are also called Phosphoglycerides or Glycerophospholipids.
- Phospholipids are the major lipid components of biological membranes.
- Phospholipids are made up of a Glycerol esterified at its C1 and C2 positions to fatty acids and to a phosphate group at its C3 position.
- The phosphoryl group is attached to a ‘X’ group which determines the type of phospholipid.
- Phospholipids are amphiphilic molecules with non-polar/ hydrophobic tails made up of hydrocarbon chains of fatty acids and polar/ hydrophilic head made up of phosphate group.
- C1 position of Phospholipids is usually attached to a saturated fatty acid having 16 or 18 C.
- C2 position of Phospholipids is usually attached to a unsaturated fatty acid having 16 to 20 C.
EXTRA INFORMATION
| Name of X-OH | Formula of -X | Name of Phospholipid |
| Water | -H | Phosphatidic acid |
| Ethanolamine | -CH2CH2NH3+ | Phosphatidylethanolamine |
| Choline | -CH2CH2N(CH3)3+ | Phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) |
| Serine | -CH2CH(NH3+)COO– | Phosphatidylserine |
