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3.2.2.2.2. Glycolipids

Glycolipids (or sphingoglycolipids)

They are complex lipids formed by the union of:

  • A ceramide (sphingosine attached to a fatty acid).
  • A carbohydrate.

They lack a phosphate group and do not have ester bonds either.

They are part of the lipid bilayers of the cytoplasmic membranes of all cells, especially neurons in the brain.

Glycolipids are part of the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The carbohydrate part of the molecule is oriented towards the outside of the plasma membrane and is a fundamental component of the glycocalyx, where it acts in cell recognition and as antigenic receptors.

Membrana plasmática
800px-Membrana_con_elementos.jpg (Imagen JPEG, 800 × 542 píxeles) - Escalado (0 %). (s. f.). Recuperado a partir de http://www.wikillerato.org/images/thumb/5/5b/Membrana_con_elementos.jpg/800px-Membrana_con_elementos.jpg

The glycolipids can be divided into two groups:

Cerebrosides

The cerebrosides are molecules in which the ceramide binds a sugar chain (link β-O-glycosidic) of glucose or galactose.

Galactoceramida

By [[User: Roadnottaken|Roadnottaken]] (transfered from enWiki) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Gangliosides

The gangliosides, in turn, are molecules in which the ceramide binds to a complex oligosaccharide wherein the sialic acid always appears.

Gangliósidos

By Edgar181 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons


         

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Biology and Geology teaching materials for Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) and Baccalaureate students.