Question

A phosphoglyceride is always made up of

• A. Only a saturated fatty acid esterified to a glycerol molecule to which a phosphate group is also attached
• B. Only an unsaturated fatty acid esterified to a glycerol molecule to which a phosphate group is also attached
• C. A saturated or unsaturated fatty acid esterified to a glycerol molecule to which a phosphate group is also attached
• D. A saturated or unsaturated fatty acid esterified to a phosphate group which is also attached to a glycerol molecule

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

A saturated or unsaturated fatty acid esterified to a glycerol molecule to which a phosphate group is also attached

Phosphoglycerides are a type of lipid molecules, present in the cell membranes of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It contains two fatty acid chains, a glycerol molecule and a phosphate. Glycerol is a 3 carbon alcohol, in which the first and second carbon is bonded to fatty acid chains by an ester bond (esterified) and the third carbon is attached to a phosphate. The fatty acid chains can be saturated i.e having no double bond or unsaturated ie. having doubles bonds between the carbon atoms.

So, the correct answer is 'A saturated or unsaturated fatty acid esterified to a glycerol molecule to which a phosphate group is also attached'