Expert: Walter Hintz - 8/24/2005

Question
Hi,
I have a project due but I cannot find out what the carbohydrate chain does in the cell, more specifically, in the lipid bilayer. I have actually tried and I have been unsucessful finding only webpages with some sort of formulas.
To help a little, could you also tell me what the hydrophilic "heads" and hydrophobic "tails" also do.
Thanks a lot!!

Answer
 Hi Jordan
Carbohydtare chains join with proteins to form glycoproteins and lipids to form glycolipids.  Both of these provide energy. They are complicated.  Search the two at google for more information.  Blood types are determined by these two compounds.
 Hydrophilic heads are polar and the tails are non polar.  They determine the semi-permeability of the cell membrane allowing for the passage of materials that are not water soluble.  You can find this information in any college biology text.  Try the library instead of web sites.