![]() A molecule with this arrangement of a positively or negatively charged area and an uncharged, or non-polar, area is referred to as amphiphilic or “dual-loving. The head can form hydrogen bonds, but the tail cannot. This arrangement gives the overall molecule an area described as its head (the phosphate-containing group), which has a polar character or negative charge, and an area called the tail (the fatty acids), which has no charge. Therefore, phospholipids form an excellent two-layer cell membrane that separates fluid within the cell from the fluid outside of the cell.Ī phospholipid molecule (Figure 2) consists of a three-carbon glycerol backbone with two fatty acid molecules attached to carbons 1 and 2, and a phosphate-containing group attached to the third carbon. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like A(n) is made up of a glycerol backbone attached to three fatty acids. In contrast, the interior of the cell membrane is hydrophobic and will not interact with water. The glycerol backbone is central to all lipids. Thus, the membrane surfaces that face the interior and exterior of the cell are hydrophilic. Glycerol has three hydroxyl groups that are responsible for its solubility in water and its hygroscopic nature. The hydrophilic regions of the phospholipids tend to form hydrogen bonds with water and other polar molecules on both the exterior and interior of the cell. When placed in water, hydrophobic molecules tend to form a ball or cluster. They interact with other non-polar molecules in chemical reactions, but generally do not interact with polar molecules. Hydrophobic, or water-hating molecules, tend to be non-polar. The fluid mosaic model of the plasma membrane structure describes the plasma membrane as a fluid combination of phospholipids, cholesterol, proteins, and carbohydrates. ![]()
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