Introduction
Lipids are a structurally heterogeneous collection of molecules made largely of carbon and hydrogen with a little oxygen, although nitrogen and phosphorus are often thrown in as well. The feature these disparate molecules have in common is that they are hydrophobic
.
What is important about hydrophobicity?
- It allows membranes (which are made of lipids) to separate aqueous compartments (such as cells and organelles) from one another.
- It creates special problems as part of their processing and metabolism when lipid molecules are transported from one place to another through aqueous solutions such as the blood.
