GLYCOLIPIDS
- They are lipids having sugar residues.
- Two common glycolipids are cerebrosides and gangliosides. (1) Cerebrosides
- They are made of amino alcohol sphingosine, a fatty acid and sugar.
- The polar head group is neutral being made of sugar unit.
Glucocerebrosides contain D-glucose in the head region. They are found in cell membranes.
Galactocerebrosides have D-galactose in head region. They occur in cell membranes of brain cells.
Eg. Kerasin, Cerebron, Nervone, Oxynervone.
(2) Gangliosides
- They are made of sphingosine or dihydrosphingosine, fatty acid, glucose, galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid.
- Gangliosides are involved in ion transport and receptors for viral particles.
- They are found in grey matter.
Note :- By extra storage of glycolipid Tay sach disease is caused.