In: Biology
functions of glycolipids
FUNCTION OF GLYCOLIPIDS: The functions of glycolipids are discussed below:
1. The function of glycolipids in the body is to play role for cell to cell interactions such as in case of leukocytes that is a type of white blood cell and endothelial cell interaction during immune response. It can participate in regulation, growth, and apoptosis because the saccharide of the glycolipid bind to a specific complementary carbohydrate of a neighboring cell to cause such cellular responses.
2. Glycolipids plays it role in recognition of host cells by viruses and also during inflammation that is it helps in interaction between the lectins present in the surface of the leukocytes and endothelial cells to bind to the carbohydrates attached to glycolipids to initiate the immune response which results in leukocytes to leave circulation and congregate near the site of inflammation.
3. Glycolipid plays role in blood group determination such as blood type A, B, O and AB because there are specific glycolipids that contains oligosaccharide on the surface of red blood cell to acts as an antigen. So, antigens which are not present in an individual's blood will cause the formation of antibodies that bind to the foreign glycolipids and hence help in the determination of the blood group by means of agglutination or precipitation.