Q.3 Which of the following is a glycolipid?
(A) Cerebroside
(B) Phosphatidylcholine
(C) Phosphatidylserine
(D) Cardiolipin
Which of the Following is a Glycolipid? MCQ Answer and Explanation
Cerebroside is the correct answer as it is a glycolipid, while the other options are phospholipids. This multiple-choice question tests knowledge of lipid classification in biochemistry, particularly glycolipids versus phospholipids.
Correct Answer
(A) Cerebroside
Cerebroside qualifies as a glycolipid because it consists of a ceramide backbone linked to a single sugar molecule, such as glucose or galactose, without a phosphate group.
Glycolipids Overview
Glycolipids are lipids with a carbohydrate attached to a ceramide or glycerol backbone, playing key roles in cell recognition and myelin sheaths. Cerebrosides, a major type, predominate in neural tissues like brain myelin.
They differ from phospholipids by lacking phosphorus, instead featuring glycosidic bonds to sugars.
Option Breakdown
| Option | Classification | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| (A) Cerebroside | Glycolipid | Ceramide + monosaccharide (e.g., galactose); no phosphate; abundant in myelin. |
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| (B) Phosphatidylcholine | Phospholipid | Glycerol + two fatty acids + phosphate + choline; major plasma membrane component. |
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| (C) Phosphatidylserine | Phospholipid | Glycerol + two fatty acids + phosphate + serine; involved in apoptosis signaling. |
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| (D) Cardiolipin | Phospholipid | Two phosphatidic acids + glycerol; unique to mitochondrial inner membrane. |
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