Glycerophospholipid

Membrane structures. Top, an archaeal phospholipid: 1, isoprene chains; 2, ether linkages; 3, L-glycerol moiety; 4, phosphate group. Middle, a bacterial or eukaryotic phospholipid: 5, fatty acid chains; 6, ester linkages; 7, D-glycerol moiety; 8, phosphate group. Bottom: 9, lipid bilayer of bacteria and eukaryotes; 10, lipid monolayer of some archaea.

Glycerophospholipids or phosphoglycerides are glycerol-based phospholipids. They are the main component of biological membranes in eukaryotic cells. They are a type of lipid, of which its composition affects membrane structure and properties.[1] Two major classes are known: those for bacteria and eukaryotes and a separate family for archaea.[2]

  1. ^ Harayama, Takeshi; Riezman, Howard (May 2018). "Understanding the diversity of membrane lipid composition". Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 19 (5): 281–296. doi:10.1038/nrm.2017.138. ISSN 1471-0080. PMID 29410529.
  2. ^ Caforio, Antonella; Driessen, Arnold J.M. (2017). "Archaeal phospholipids: Structural properties and biosynthesis" (PDF). Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids. 1862 (11): 1325–1339. doi:10.1016/j.bbalip.2016.12.006. PMID 28007654.