Question

What is the role of Glycolipids in cells?

Answer 1

Hint: -Glycolipids are formed by joining a monosaccharide or polysaccharide with a lipid molecule.
The carbon of the carbohydrate and the free hydroxyl group of the lipid are joined by a covalent glycosidic bond.

Complete answers:
Glycolipids are the carbohydrates-lipid complex. It is mostly found in the extracellular region of cell membranes. It plays an important role in regulation of many important functions. Such as:
Cell signaling :
-Major amount of Glycolipids are found on the intracellular membrane.
-Along with the structural functions, they have the roles in cell signaling too.
-The exposed carbohydrate molecule of glycolipid binds to a specific complementary neighboring carbohydrate or carbohydrate - protein complex (lectin).
-This interaction leads to cell recognition and cellular response.
Cellular functions :
-Further the cellular response causes regulatory activities, growth and programmed cell death (apoptosis) processes.
-It provides necessary energy to the cells.
-It regulates the cell growth due to its interaction with several growth factor receptors.
-A type of glycolipids found in plasma membranes induce apoptosis of cells.
Blood types :
-Glycolipids are on the surface of red blood cells as an antigen. It acts as an receptor too.
-The carbohydrates on Glycolipids determine the blood group types.
-The blood group 'O' has 'H antigen', while blood group 'A' and 'B' have 'N-acetylgalactosamine' and 'galactose' respectively.
-Blood group 'AB' has all the three antigens. Thus these are the universal acceptors.
Immune response :
-The carbohydrates of glycolipids bind to the selection of leukocytes and generate Immune responses.
-It also has a role in destruction and elimination of pathogens.

Notes:
-The cerebrosides and gangliosides types of glycolipids are found in peripheral nervous tissue and plasma membranes of the neurons respectively.
-They are also involved in protective function.
-It also plays a role in maintaining the calcium content of the cell.