Sphingolipids Terms Links

The terms Y -shaped [109], tripodal , 1,1-double-tailed or peg-shaped [110] describe the molecular geometry of this type of amphiphile. At the hydrophilic head two hydrophobic tails are joined close together or even by a common link to the headgroup. Very famous examples for this molecular architecture are the biologically active phospholipids and sphingolipids [111]. Lipids occur in all biological cells and have common solubility properties generally they are water-insoluble, amphiphilic molecules... 

The nomenclature of polar lipids is often confusing. In this chapter polar lipids with glycerol as the molecular backbone are referred to as phospholipids, and those derived from sphingosine - sphingolipids, and all lipids linked to any type of carbohydrate moiety - as glycolipids. Thus, in this chapter the term polar lipids refers to phospholipids, sphingolipids and glycolipids. 

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