amphipathic

Examples of amphipathic in the following topics:

• Salt Formation

  • Such molecules are termed amphiphilic (Gk. amphi = both) or amphipathic.

• Phospholipids

  • Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules that make up the bilayer of the plasma membrane and keep the membrane fluid.
  • A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule which means it has both a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic component.
  • The formation of a micelle is a response to the amphipathic nature of fatty acids, meaning that they contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

• Antimicrobial Peptides

  • This amphipathicity of the antimicrobial peptides allows the partition of the membrane lipid bilayer.
  • Their amino acid composition, amphipathicity, cationic charge, and size allow them to attach to and insert into membrane bilayers to form pores by ‘barrel-stave', ‘carpet' or ‘toroidal-pore' mechanisms.

• Antimicrobial Proteins

  • The amphipathicity (hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends) and positive charge of peptides are their defining structural features.
  • The amino acid composition, amphipathicity, cationic charge, and size allow them to attach to and insert into membrane bilayers to form pores by barrel-stave, carpet, or toroidal-pore mechanisms.

• Soaps & Detergents

  • Such molecules are termed amphiphilic (Gk. amphi = both) or amphipathic.

• Regulation of Blood Cholesterol Levels

  • Phospholipids and cholesterol, being amphipathic, are transported in the surface monolayer of the lipoprotein particle.