Glycolipids occur in all types of organisms, i.e., bacteria, plants, animals, and humans. They are essential constituents of cellular membranes comprised of a hydrophobic lipid tail and one or more hydrophilic sugar groups linked by a glycosidic bond. The basic structure of a glycolipid consists of a mono- or oligosaccharide group attached to a sphingolipid or a glycerol group with one or two fatty acids.
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