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A phospholipid molecule is made up of fatty acids and a platform to which fatty acids are attached. A phospholipid molecule is also made up of a phosphate, and an alcohol that is attached to the phosphate.

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9y ago
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14y ago

A phospholipid bilayer consists of two layers of phospholipids. A phospholipid has a polar, hydrophilic ('water-loving') "head" end and a non-polar, hydrophobic ('water-hating') "tail".

In the bilayer the tails face each other on the inside of the bilayer, and the heads face outwards.

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11y ago

Well phospholipids can be called the subunits of the phospholipid bilayer.

And if we were to extend the phospholipid bilayer to a functional biological membranes then the number of subunits would be enormous. There are as I have said, phospholipids, proteins, small peptides, small molecules (like cholesterol), glycolipids, sphyngolipids and many more I'm sure.

However, if what you asked is what you meant, there are 3 'sub'-'units' that make up a phospholipid:

1) A glycerol back bone (propane-1,2,3-triol)

2) A soluble, hydrophilic (water loving) 'head group' that come in many different shapes and forms, but all retain the hydrophobic characteristic. These are bound to the third carbon of the glycerol back bone via a phosphodiester bond (which you may have seen in the adjoining of ribonucleotides in DNA).

3) long, fatty acid carbon chains that are hydrophobic (as you might be able to guess, 'water hating'). These, like the 'head groups' can vary greatly. These come in different lengths and have different levels of saturation (Saturated - rich in Hydrogen, Unsaturated - poor in Hydrogen as a result of double bonds). There are 2 fatty acid tail groups ester linked to the first and second carbon of the glycerol.

Hope this helped...

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12y ago

glycerol, two fatty acids, and, in place of a third fatty acid, a phosphate group bonded to one of several organic groups

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14y ago

A hydrophilic phosphate "head" and two hydrophobic fatty acid "tails"

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10y ago

Phosphate

Glycerol

Fatty Acids

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10y ago

A choline, phosphate group, glycerol, 1 saturated fatty acid, and 1 monounsaturated fatty acid

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12y ago

PROTEINS

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Q: What are the building blocks of phospholipids?
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