Glycerophospholipid
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Glycerophospholipids or phosphoglycerides are glycerol-based phospholipids. They are the main component of biological membranes.
The term Glycerophospholipid signifies any derivative of sn-glycero-3-phosphoric acid that contains at least one O-acyl, or O-alkyl or O-alk-1'-enyl residue attached to the glycerol moiety and a polar head made of a nitrogenous base, a glycerol, or an inositol unit.
It contains a glycerol core with fatty acids. They can be the same or different subunits of fatty acids. The fatty acid at carbon 1 is typically saturated while that at carbon 2 is unsaturated. Carbon three contains a phophate group or an alcohol attached to a phosphate group.
One of its function is to serve as a structural component of membranes. It can also act as an emulsifying agent to promote dispersal of one substance into another. This is sometimes used in candy making.
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