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What are phospholipids

What are phospholipids? Explain in brief.

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Phospholipids are molecules made up of glycerol bound to 2 long molecules of fatty acids and to 1 phosphate group. Thus, phospholipids are amphipathic molecules, that is, they have a non-polar part, due to the long fatty acid chains, and a polar part, due to the group phosphate.

Phospholipids are the major component of cell membranes. Sphingomyelin, the substance which makes the myelin sheath of axons in nervous system, is a phospholipid as well.

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