Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: Glycolipids are membrane components in species ranging from bacteria to man especially in those organisms which live in unusual harsh environments.The most probable function of glycolipids in membrane is based on their capability to undergo extensive interlipid hydrogen bonding via glycosyl head groups; therefore they impart structural integrity to the membranes of the organisms.Besides, being structural components of the cell membrane, they play an important role in cellular functions such as in cell-cell communication, as receptor components, as anchors for proteins and as regulators of signal transduction.In addition, glycolipids provide a molecular platform for clustering of signal transducers.The tight interactions between cholesterol and glycolipids in the membrane are the driving force that segregates them from phospholipids that remain fluid in nature.
Author: Renuka Malhotra
Institution: DAV University
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2096972282