What is a glycolipid?
Question:
What is a glycolipid?
Cell Membranes:
Plasma cell membranes are lipid bilayers that separates the internal contents of the cell from the external environment around it. The plasma cell membrane has many functions, particularly to regulate molecules entering and exiting the cell.
Answer and Explanation: 1
Glycolipids are a specific type of lipid that contain a carbohydrate group. These molecules help to stabilize the cell membrane, with the carbohydrate group acting as part of the polar surface of the cell membrane. In addition to stabilizing the cell membrane of all eukaryotes, glycolipids help identify this cell. There are many different types of glycolipids, with the majority having glycerol or sphingosine backbones.
Learn more about this topic:
from
Chapter 7 / Lesson 34Learn about the different types of carbohydrates in cell membranes. Understand the importance and function of carbohydrates in cells and cell membranes.