The Lipid Library

Complex Glycerolipids

These pages comprise a series of documents describing the structures, occurrence, biochemistry and functions of the complex (polar) glycerolipids, including both the phospholipids and glycosyldiacylglycerols.

The glycerophospholipids are derived mainly from sn-1,2-diacylglycerols with a phosphate residue in position sn-3 linked in turn to an amino-alcohol, amino acid, carbohydrate or other functional moiety. They are major components of all biological membranes, but have a variety of other functions as cellular messengers, enzyme activators, and so forth.

The glycosyldiacylglycerols are especially important in plants where they are major components of photosynthetic tissues, substituting for phospholipids in some circumstances. They are also minor but significant, though much neglected, constituents of some animal tissues.

The webpage dealing with sulfonolipids is also relevant here.

PDF files of each topic are available for download at the end of web-pages. There is a shortcut to a full list of individual lipid classes here.

Updated: 18/4/2008 Credits/disclaimer	Scottish Crop Research Institute (and MRS Lipid Analysis Unit), Invergowrie, Dundee (DD2 5DA), Scotland