BRAINCAKEPhospholipids
A phospholipid is similar to a triglyceride, except that one of the three fatty acids is replaced by a phosphate group. So a phospholipid is made of glycerol, two fatty acids joined by ester bonds, and a phosphate group. Often another small polar group, such as choline, is attached to the phosphate.
The two ends of the molecule behave very differently:
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Key terms in this lesson
- micelle
- A small spherical structure formed when lipid or phospholipid molecules cluster in water with hydrophilic heads outwards and hydrophobic tails inwards.
More in Biological Molecules
- Cellulose
- The Nature of Lipids
- Fatty Acids and Glycerol
- Triglycerides
- Unit Membrane
- Test for Lipids
- Amino-acids
- Hydrogen Bonding
All 25 lessons in Biological Molecules · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics