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The cell membrane of archaea consist mostly of ether phospholipids. These lipids have a flipped chirality compared to bacterial and eukaryotic membranes, a conundrum known as the " lipid divide ". The "tail" groups are also not simply n-alkyl groups, but highly methylated chains made up of saturated isoprenoid units (e.g. phytanyl ).
By contrast, the exoplasmic side (the side on the exterior of the cell) consists mainly of phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin, a type of sphingolipid. Each glycerophospholipid molecule consists of a small polar head group and two long hydrophobic chains. In the cell membrane, the two layers of phospholipids are arranged as follows:
In eukaryotes, cell membranes also contain another class of lipid, sterol, interspersed among the phospholipids. The combination provides fluidity in two dimensions combined with mechanical strength against rupture. Purified phospholipids are produced commercially and have found applications in nanotechnology and materials science. [3]
Membrane lipids are a group of compounds (structurally similar to fats and oils) which form the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The three major classes of membrane lipids are phospholipids, glycolipids, and cholesterol. Lipids are amphiphilic: they have one end that is soluble in water ('polar') and an ending that is soluble in fat ...
In human physiology, they are found particularly in nervous tissue such as the white matter of brain, nerves, neural tissue, and in spinal cord, where they make up 45% of all phospholipids. [2] Phosphatidylethanolamines play a role in membrane fusion and in disassembly of the contractile ring during cytokinesis in cell division. [3]
Phosphatidylinositol (PI), also known as inositol phospholipid, is a lipid composed of a phosphate group, two fatty acid chains, and one inositol molecule. It belongs to the class of phosphatidylglycerides and is typically found as a minor component on the cytosolic side of eukaryotic cell membranes. The phosphate group imparts a negative ...
Phosphatidylserine (abbreviated Ptd-L-Ser or PS) is a phospholipid and is a component of the cell membrane. [1] It plays a key role in cell cycle signaling, specifically in relation to apoptosis. It is a key pathway for viruses to enter cells via apoptotic mimicry. [2] Its exposure on the outer surface of a membrane marks the cell for ...
They are commonly found in cell membranes in the nervous, immune, and cardiovascular systems. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] In humans, lower levels of plasmalogens are studied in relation to some diseases. Plasmalogens are also associated with adaptations to extreme environments in non-human organisms.