The functional roles of lipids in biological membranes

摘要: Publisher Summary Biological membranes are fluid (liquid–crystalline) lipid bilayers, into which, proteins can insert or associate at the surface. The membrane research has focused primarily on protein components, with portion viewed as a convenient barrier and environment for enzymes. However, biological contain wide diversity of lipids, far more than needed to perform structural functions, these lipids require elaborate metabolic pathways their synthesis transport. main classes found in eukaryotic include glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol (Chol). Of former group, phosphatidylcholine (PC) is major lipid, but phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI), cardiolipin (CL) also species membranes. A representative chemical structure common phospholipid 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC). sphingolipids sphingomyelin (SPM), ceramide (CER), glycosphingolipids (GSLs). Most physiological temperatures—a requirement proper function. fluid-membrane phase usually refers liquid–crystalline bilayer phase, although that large quantities Chol adopt different fluid-phase known liquid-ordered.