Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
glycolipid structure in nearly all organisms examined is a diglycosyldiglyceride. A
major function of these diglycosyldiglycerides is to serve as a membrane anchor for
lipoteichoic acids. The outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, many of which
are human pathogens, contains an extremely complex class of glycolipids, which
are neither based on diacylglycerol nor sphingoid. They consist of a basic unit
(lipid A: diglucosamine phosphate with amide-linked and ester- bound
- hydroxy -
myristic acid). A glycosyl headgroup is linked to lipid A, which is composed of
approximately 40 sugar residues (Figure 10.1). This chain extends outwards from
the bacterium's outer membrane, and serves to permit growth and survival of
bacteria in harsh environments and the interior milieu in eukaryotic hosts.
β
Figure 10.1
Structural depiction of the core
structure of lipid A with a basic unit consisting
of a diglucosamine phosphate with amide-
linked and ester- bound
- hydroxy - myristic acid.
The heteropolysaccharide headgroup consists
of approximately 40 sugar residues.
β
