PHOSPHOLIPIDS

• WHAT IS A PHOSPHOLIPID MADE UP OF?

  hydrophilic head (glycerol + phosphate) and hydrophobic tails (2 fatty acids)
• HOW DO THE TWO FATTY ACIDS BOND TO GLYCEROL?

  condensation reactions creating two ester bonds
• PROPERTIES OF PHOSPHOLIPIDS?

  • hydrophilic head
  • hydrophobic tail
  • polar
  • phospholipid bilayer
• WHY IS THE 'HEAD' HYDROPHILIC?

  due to positive charge on phosphate group
• WHAT DOES THE HYDROPHILIC HEAD MEAN?

  attracts water, repels fat (as it is charged)
• WHAT DOES HYDROPHOBIC TAIL MEAN?

  repels water, mix with fats (as it is not charged)
• WHAT DOES POLAR MEAN?

  has two charged regions
• WHAT IS THE PHOSPHOLIPID BILAYER?

  heads on outside, tails on inside