Conjugated Molecules (Glycolipids, Glycoproteins): Study Notes

For the complete syllabus, check out our PMDC MDCAT Syllabus 2025 article.

Conjugated Molecules:

Glycolipids

• Conjugate of lipids and carbohydrates, also contain some nitrogenous compounds.
• Their role is to maintain the stability of the cell membrane and to facilitate cellular)
• Glycolipids are found on the surface of all eukaryotic cell membranes.
• Cerebrosides are involved in nerve cell membranes. It is important constituent of brain.
• Sulpholipids are also example of glycolipids found in chloroplast.

Glycoproteins or mucoids:

• It is formed when carbohydrate molecule combine with a protein molecule
• Most of the oligo and polysaccharides in the animals and plants cells are linked covalently to protein molecule.
• It contains small amount of carbohydrates i.e. less than 4% e.g. egg albumin, gonadotropic hormone.

Nucleoprotein:

• These are found in the nucleus conjugated with nucleic acid. On hydrolysis nucleoprotein give rise to simple proteins and nucleic acids.
• These are weakly acidic and soluble in water.

Lipoprotein:

• They are conjugates of lipids and proteins
• They help in the transportation of lipid in the blood as low density protein or free fatty acid.
• Lamellar lipoprotein system occur in the myelin sheath of nerves, photoreceptive structures, chloroplast and membranes of bacteria

Explore our MDCAT webapp for tests, video lectures, and complete prep resources.