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Biomolecules
Lipids: Phospholipids
1 question from 1 paper, each with its answer.
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Concepts tested
- Structure of phospholipids
All Questions
2003 AIPMT 1 question
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Phospholipids are esters of glycerol with :-Glycerol has three –OH groups.
In a triglyceride (fat), all three –OH groups are esterified with fatty acids (carboxylic acids).
In a phospholipid, two –OH groups are esterified with fatty acids and the third with phosphoric acid (a phosphate group), which is often further linked to a nitrogenous base such as choline (e.g. lecithin).
This gives the molecule a hydrophobic tail (two fatty acid chains) and a hydrophilic head (phosphate), which is why phospholipids form cell membranes.
So phospholipids are esters of glycerol with two carboxylic acid residues and one phosphate group.