Glycolipid

Glycolipids (Greek glykys = sweet, lipos = fat), also Glycolipoide or glycolipids are phosphorus-free structure of lipids or membrane lipids ( components of cell membranes ), in which one or more mono -or oligosaccharides are glycosidically linked to a lipid molecule. The lipid is comprised of fatty acids that are linked via ester bonds with glycerin, or via amide bonds with sphingosine. Glycolipids are present in all tissues, but exclusively on the outside of the lipid bilayer.

The glycolipid contains glycerol, it is referred to as a glyceroglycolipid. Monogalactosyl are the major lipids of chloroplast membranes.

In glycosphingolipids (also sphingoglycolipids or glycosylceramides ) an N- Acylsphinganinderivat is glycosidically linked to a mono - or oligosaccharide. If the saccharide component still esterified with sulfuric acid, this also sulfatides are called.

The cerebrosides ceramide is linked to galactose or glucose to galactocerebrosides or glucocerebroside. These account for about 10 % of the dry matter of the brain. Sulfatides also frequently occur in the brain and are characterized by esterification of the C6 atom with sulfuric acid.