What are Membrane Lipids?

Membrane lipid is a collective name for lipids on biofilms. Its molecular arrangement is continuous or double-layered, which constitutes the basic skeleton of biofilms. Its properties determine the general properties of cell membranes. All membrane lipids have a hydrophilic end (polar end) and a hydrophobic end (non-polar end). This property makes biological membranes have a barrier effect, most water-soluble substances cannot pass freely, and only lipophilic substances are allowed to pass. Since lipids always form a double-layer structure on their own, membranes have no free edges and they always form a continuous, unbroken structure. This property of lipids allows them to form larger network structures within cells. At the same time, it is also the elasticity of the lipid bilayer that allows the membrane to change, disintegrate and rebuild during cell movement and division. The bilayer nature and plasticity of lipids are also conducive to cell fusion and reproduction. For example, in fertilization, the combination of sperm cells with egg cells (acrosome reaction) and local fusion require membrane changes. ^[1]

Membrane lipid

Right!

Membrane lipid is a collective name for lipids on biofilms. Its molecular arrangement is continuous or double-layered, which constitutes the basic skeleton of biofilms. Its properties determine the general properties of cell membranes. All membrane lipids have a hydrophilic end (polar end) and a hydrophobic end (non-polar end). This property makes biological membranes have a barrier effect, most water-soluble substances cannot pass freely, and only lipophilic substances are allowed to pass. Since lipids always form a double-layer structure on their own, membranes have no free edges and they always form a continuous, unbroken structure. This property of lipids allows them to form larger network structures within cells. At the same time, it is also the elasticity of the lipid bilayer that allows the membrane to change, disintegrate and rebuild during cell movement and division. The bilayer nature and plasticity of lipids are also conducive to cell fusion and reproduction. For example, in fertilization, the combination of sperm cells with egg cells (acrosome reaction) and local fusion require membrane changes. ^[1]

It is the basic component of membrane lipid, which accounts for more than 50% of the entire membrane lipid. The main characteristics of phospholipid molecules:

Has a polar head and two non-polar tails (fatty acid chains), but is present in

Glycolipid is containing

Cholesterol only exists on the membrane of eukaryotic cells, and its content generally does not exceed 1/3 of the membrane lipid. It is less in the plant cell membrane, and its function is to improve the lipid bilayer.

Liposomes (liposome) are an artificial membrane. In water, the hydrophilic head of the phospholipid molecule is inserted into the water, and the hydrophobic tail is extended to the air. After stirring, a double-layered lipid molecule is formed into a spherical liposome with a diameter ranging from 25 to 1000 nm. Liposomes can be used for transgenes or prepared drugs, taking advantage of the fact that liposomes can fuse with cell membranes to deliver drugs into cells.