Lipid Headgroup Types - PhysWiki

Figure 1: Membrane lipids are polar and can be separated into phospholipids and glycolipids, for which the basic structures are shown. Note the difference in the third binding site. Phospholipids have a phosphate bound to an alcohol (glycerol-) or choline (sphingo-), while glycolipids have a sugar group. Source: Lafer, Eileen. “Membrane Lipids I and II: Glycerophospholipids and Sphingolipids.” Lecture. San Antonio, Texas. December 6, 2011 Lipid headgroups are substituents that attach to the glycerol, sphingosine, or cholesterol backbones of polar membrane lipids. Phosphoand glycolipids have headgroups linked to the backbone through a phosphodiester bond (Figure 2). Understanding head group behavior is necessary for the study of membrane biology. The high structural diversity allows for a large range of functions, including effects on membrane curvature [1] cell signaling, substrate transport [2], and more. Consequently, their crucial role in membrane biology also ties them in with a broad range of diseases, from cardiovascular defects to cancer.