Phospholipids contain all of the following structural features EXCEPT:

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11ecba2d_128b_cff8_a3bf_9feb168d3b0a_MD0008_00 Phospholipids are a main component of the cell membrane and are responsible for the cell membrane's structure. They are amphiphilic molecules made of a hydrophobic (nonpolar) tail and a hydrophilic (polar) head group. This characteristic causes the phospholipid molecules to arrange into a bilayer in aqueous environments. The hydrophobic tails form the inner portion of the bilayer to keep away from water, and the hydrophilic heads encompass the outer portion of the bilayer toward water because the polar head group molecules can form favorable interactions with water, such as hydrogen bonds. The general structure of a phospholipid includes a polar head group and nonpolar tail joined together by a molecule referred to as the backbone. The hydrophilic head contains a substituted phosphate, and the hydrophobic tail is made of two fatty acid chains (Choices A and D). The hydrophilic head and the hydrophobic tail are linked together by a glycerol backbone (Choice C). Two adjacent carbons of glycerol are bonded to the fatty acid chains through an ester bond, and the third glycerol carbon is bonded to phosphate through a phosphodiester bond. A variety of phospholipids can be made with different head groups on phosphate, a different backbone, and different fatty acids (saturated or unsaturated). The fatty acid double bond configuration causes the hydrophobic tail to take on different shapes and affects the properties of the phospholipid, such as membrane fluidity. Phenols are present in biological molecules, such as the amino acid tyrosine; however, they are not a component of the phospholipid structure. Educational objective: Phospholipids are the main component in the cell membrane and provide structure to the cell membrane. These molecules are made of a hydrophilic head containing a substituted phosphate group and a fatty acid hydrophobic tail. The head and tail are linked together by a glycerol backbone.

Phospholipids Contain All of the Following Structural Features EXCEPT