1. Lipids and the Cell Membrane
Chapter 6

2. Lipid Structure Three Types of Lipids:
Phospholipids: cell membrane
Steroids: signaling molecules called hormones
Fats: mixture of three fatty acid chains and one glycerol molecule
Which is easier to transport in the bloodstream? Why?
Steroid Structure

3. The Structure of Membrane Lipids
Membrane-forming lipids contain both a polar, hydrophilic region and a nonpolar, hydrophobic region.
Phospholipids structure:
The “head” region, consisting of a glycerol, a phosphate, and a charged group, contains highly polar covalent bonds.
The “tail” region is comprised of two nonpolar fatty acid or isoprene chains.