Glycolipids (or sphingoglycolipids)
They lack a phosphate group and do not have ester bonds either.
They are part of the lipid bilayers of the cytoplasmic membranes of all cells, especially neurons in the brain.
Glycolipids are part of the lipid bilayer of the cell membrane. The carbohydrate part of the molecule is oriented towards the outside of the plasma membrane and is a fundamental component of the glycocalyx, where it acts in cell recognition and as antigenic receptors.
The glycolipids can be divided into two groups:
Cerebrosides
The cerebrosides are molecules in which the ceramide binds a sugar chain (link β-O-glycosidic) of glucose or galactose.
By [[User: Roadnottaken|Roadnottaken]] (transfered from enWiki) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
Gangliosides
The gangliosides, in turn, are molecules in which the ceramide binds to a complex oligosaccharide wherein the sialic acid always appears.
You can make any suggestion, question, comment, . in our forum 2º Bachillerato Biología - Foro de biologia-geologia.com