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Polar Head
Apolar Tails
POLAR HEAD
O
H
R 1
C
O
H
C
O
R 2
APOLAR
TAILS
C
H
C
O
O
H
C
O
P
O
Alcohol
H
OH
FIGURE 5.7 Cartoon depiction of an amphipathic phospholipid.
membrane proteins. Currently, only a few of the more obvious unique phospholipid func-
tions have been discovered. Unraveling these functions is complex, requiring a combination
of
studies. Genetic mutations do not directly affect the phospholipids, but
rather their biosynthetic pathways that may indirectly alter many membrane events. Other
more subtle functions for each class of phospholipids will undoubtedly be found in
the future.
Figure 5.6 depicts a simplified chemical structure that will be employed in the discussion
of the individual phospholipid classes. Also included are the names and associated alcohol
for each of the 7 major phospholipids.
PA ( Figure 5.10 ) is the smallest and simplest phospholipid and so is the precursor
for other more complex, alcohol-containing phospholipids [10] . As with all other
in vivo
and
in vitro
C H 2 OH
C H 2 OH
HO
C
H
H
C
OH
O
O
H 2 C
O
P
H
H 2 C
O
P
H
OH
OH
L glycerol-3-phosphate
D glycerol-3-phosphate
FIGURE 5.8 Optical isomers of glycerol-3-phosphate.
 
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