What Are Glycolipids?
Lipids, such as fats and waxes, that have attached carbohydrate groups called glycans are referred to as glycolipids. There are many different kinds of glycolipids that serve many different biological roles; primarily, though, they are involved with cellular recognition and energy production. Glycans most commonly bond to phospholipids, which have one water-soluble end and one water-insoluble end. They are commonly found as parts of cellular membranes because of some traits related to their polar and nonpolar ends. Generally speaking, a glycolipid will form when a carbohydrate chain is attached to the outer part of a cellular membrane that is composed of lipids. The most common types of glycolipids are glycosphingolipids, which are made up of ceramides connected to a glycan. Ceramides are made up of fatty acids connected to sphingosines, which are simply amino alcohols that are commonly found in nerve tissue. Glycosphingolipids tend to serve many roles relating to nerve and brain funct
