Fundamentals of Biochemistry: Life at the Molecular Level 5th Edition

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118918401
ISBN 13: 978-1-11891-840-1

Chapter 9 - Lipids and Biological Membranes - Exercises - Page 290: 14

Answer

Gangliosides contain large head groups and a bilayer containing exclusively of gangliosides would not pack easily leaving large gaps in between. As the large gaps are not permitted in the normal lipid bilayer so this bilayer which is exclusively made from gangliosides would rather be unstable. No, as cholesterol is almost entirely hydrophobic it cannot be mixed with water and form an artificial bilayer. glycerophospholipids are capable of spontaneously assembling into the bilayer structure found in biological membranes but triacylglycerols are not because glycerophospholipids are an amphipathic molecule i.e they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. Also, they can interact with water on both the ends as their heads are polar and when they organize in lipid bilayer their head groups being hydrophilic, interact with water present on both the sides of the bilayer. These have two acyl chains which can stand end to end and help in the packing of lipid bilayer easily. Finally, triacylglycerols are not amphipathic molecules hence they are not a suitable choice for the formation of the lipid bilayer.

Work Step by Step

Gangliosides contain large head groups and a bilayer containing exclusively of gangliosides would not pack easily leaving large gaps in between. As the large gaps are not permitted in the normal lipid bilayer so this bilayer which is exclusively made from gangliosides would rather be unstable. No, as cholesterol is almost entirely hydrophobic it cannot be mixed with water and form an artificial bilayer. glycerophospholipids are capable of spontaneously assembling into the bilayer structure found in biological membranes but triacylglycerols are not because glycerophospholipids are an amphipathic molecule i.e they have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts. Also, they can interact with water on both the ends as their heads are polar and when they organize in lipid bilayer their head groups being hydrophilic, interact with water present on both the sides of the bilayer. These have two acyl chains which can stand end to end and help in the packing of lipid bilayer easily. Finally, triacylglycerols are not amphipathic molecules hence they are not a suitable choice for the formation of the lipid bilayer.
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