= Sphingolipid
A <sphingolipid> is a <lipid> based on a long-chain amino alcohol, commonly <sphingosine>. Many <sphingolipids> contain a <ceramide> unit: a fatty-acid chain joined to the amino group by an <amide> bond.
Adding different polar headgroups produces distinct membrane components. A sugar headgroup gives a <glycolipid>, while a phosphocholine headgroup produces <sphingomyelin>. This modular organization connects a shared hydrophobic anchor with cell-surface recognition and <signal transduction>.
Back to article page
