Structure → Function Table for Lipids
Lipid Type
Key Structural
Features
Structure Details
(from your notes)
Function (WHY
structure matters)
Phospholipids
(Glycerophospholipids)
Amphipathic (polar
head + nonpolar
tails)
Glycerol backbone (C1,
C2, C3) + 2 fatty acids
+ phosphate group +
variable head group
(choline, serine,
ethanolamine, inositol)
Forms cell
membranes
(bilayer) because
hydrophilic head
interacts with water
and hydrophobic
tails avoid water
Phosphatidylcholine /
Phosphatidylserine etc.
Different head
groups (X group)
X = choline, serine,
ethanolamine, inositol
Head group
determines charge,
polarity, and
membrane
interactions (e.g.,
signalling,
membrane
curvature)
Ether lipids /
Plasmalogens
Ether linkage (C–O–
C) instead of ester
One FA attached via
ether bond, sometimes
with double bond near
C1–C2
More chemically
stable, important in
nerve and muscle
membranes
Sphingolipids
No glycerol;
sphingosine
backbone
Long-chain amino
alcohol (C18) + FA
attached via amide
bond
Important in
membrane
structure,
especially in
nervous tissue
(CNS)
Sphingomyelin
Phosphocholine
head + ceramide
Sphingosine + FA +
phosphate + choline
Major component
of myelin sheath
→ enables nerve
insulation and
signal
transmission
Cerebrosides
(glycosphingolipids)
Single sugar head
group
One sugar
(glucose/galactose)
attached to sphingosine
Involved in cell
recognition and
membrane
stability, especially
in nerve cells
Gangliosides
Complex
carbohydrate head
(oligosaccharides)
Multiple sugars + N-
acetylneuraminic acid
Cell-cell
recognition,
receptors, and
blood group
antigens (ABO)
