Glycolipids are complex lipid substances having carbohydrate molecules attached through glycosidic bonds in its structure. Here we are going to discuss some most common glycolipid functions in detail.
There are several cellular functions that are done by glycolipid molecules. Here we mention some most common glycolipid functions one by one.
- Serve as recognition site
- Act as receptor substances
- Helps in extracellular interaction
- Provides energy
- Important component of cell membrane structure
- Provides cell membrane stability
- Helps in determining blood group
- Role in cell immunity
Let’s have a closer look at the glycolipid functions.
Serve as recognition site or cell marker
The glycolipids are typically present at the surface of cell structure, remain attached with the plasma membrane structure. There it serves as a recognition site for extracellular substances. The carbohydrate part of glycolipid is recognised by other complementary proteins or carbohydrates that come from another cell. Hence glycolipids known as cellular markers of some specific cells.
Act as receptor substances
The glycolipids serve as receptor substances meaning different extracellular or intracellular components come and attach with the glycolipid moteity and it initiates cellular response according to them. Some glycolipids also serve as hormone receptors such asGangliosides are one of the most common pituitary hormone receptors. Glycosphingolipids are one of the most common types of glycolipids which mostly facilitate signal transduction mechanisms.
Helps in extracellular interaction
As it serves as a recognition site other extracellular substances directly bind with this and hence complete cell to cell interactions. It also initiates cellular responses towards them. That’s how Glycoproteins also influence cell regulation mechanisms, even cell death (apoptosis).
Provides energy
Though glycolipids are mainly used as cellular markers , another function of glycolipids is recently found, that at the time of necessity glycolipids also serves as an energy source of a cell. That means it is found that during starvation whether it is short-term or long-term, in absence of food materials to be burned, cells utilize its glycolipid substances to gain energy from them. The glycolipid undergoes respiration process and release from them.
Important component of cell membrane structure
The glycolipids are an important component of lipid bilayer of cell membrane structure. It is present in huge amounts and actively participates in making the lipid bilayer. It generally attached in the surface areas of cell membrane, hence facilitates extracellular interaction so easily.
Provides cell membrane stability
In cell membrane structure glycolipids are one of the most important lipid components which actively participates in making the lipid bilayer structure. It is attached in the surface area of the Plasma membrane, providing the whole membrane structure a stability with its carbohydrate moiety.
Helps in determining blood group
Within blood cells glycolipids are the most important component which is the main basis of blood group differentiation. There are four different types of blood group seen, in between them the main difference is the presence of glycolipid substance in their plasma membrane. Different kinds of glycolipids initiate different cellular responses in blood cells that’s why four different blood groups are formed.
Role in cell immunity
It is found that different kinds of glycolipids are responsible for differentiation of blood groups. The glycolipids serve as antigens, in blood group O, glycolipid H antigen is present as the determining component. In blood group A, N-acetylgalactosamine is present as determining antigen and in blood group B galactose is present as determining antigen. The AB blood group has all the determining antigen within it that’s why it is a universal acceptor. If in particular one blood group another blood group cell is introduced somewhat, in presence of foreign antigen the native blood group activates their immune system and develops antibodies against them.
Glycolipid structures from Wikimedia commons
Glycolipid functions in cell membrane
Glycolipids are one of the most important components in lipid bilayer of cell membrane structure.
The glycolipid functions in cell membranes are to remain attached within the cell membrane structure and serve as receptor substances. It acts as a recognition site for extracellular substances and binds with them hence facilitates cell to cell interactions. It also serves as a cell marker.
Glycolipid Functions in plasma membrane from Wikimedia commons
Glycolipid functions in fluid mosaic model
In fluid mosaic models glycolipids are found to remain attached in the surface area of plasma membrane structure. The main function of glycolipids is to bring stability within the fluid mosaic structure of the plasma membrane.
Glycolipids in fluid mosaic model of plasma membrane from Wikimedia commons
Conclusion-
As a whole we can say that glycolipids are one of the most important components present in cell membrane structure. It serves as a recognition site for extracellular substances, facilitates signal transduction mechanisms, and helps in cell to cell interactions. Here we mention some most common glycolipid functions with simple descriptions. Hope this article on glycolipid functions will be helpful to you.
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Hello, I am Piyali Das, pursuing my Post Graduation in Zoology from Calcutta University. I am very passionate on Academic Article writing. My aim is to explain complex things in simple way through my writings for the readers.
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