In: Biology
How is cholesterol associated with membrane phospholipids?
What is the function of cholesterol in cell membranes?
Cholesterol is associated with membrane phospholipid s
The membrane consist of glycoprotein s and cholesterol along with phospholipid s the glycoprotein s are present exteriorly there carbohydrates portion are expressed on the outer surface they are relatively minorprotein components composed of relatively 2 percent of lipids cholesterol forms the bulk of lipid it is present in almost equal amount as phospholipid.
Cholesterol forms a rigid structure of membrane bilayer it does not form the membrane but gets inserted into the phospholipid bilayer itself with its polar hydroxyl groups clos e to phospholipid head.
Function of cholesterol is
1)it maintain s the integrity of cell membrane as it forms the structural basis
2)it helps to maintain the fluidity of cell membrane
3)it protects major protein wth its fluidity capacity which secures the protein s during bend or while functioning