Amphiphile
Amphiphile
Amphiphile (pronunciation: /ˈamfəˌfīl/), also known as amphipathic molecule, is a term used in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology to describe a compound that has both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-fearing) properties.
Etymology
The term "Amphiphile" is derived from the Greek words 'amphi' meaning 'both' and 'philos' meaning 'loving'. This refers to the molecule's ability to interact with both polar (water) and nonpolar (lipid) environments.
Related Terms
- Hydrophilic: Refers to substances that are attracted to water.
- Hydrophobic: Refers to substances that repel water.
- Lipophilic: Refers to the ability of a chemical compound to dissolve in fats, oils, lipids, and non-polar solvents.
- Surfactant: A type of amphiphile that lowers the surface tension between two liquids or a liquid and a solid.
- Micelle: An aggregate of surfactant molecules dispersed in a liquid colloid, a common way for amphiphiles to form structures in water.
Function
Amphiphiles play a crucial role in forming the structure of the cell membrane. The hydrophilic head of an amphiphilic molecule is attracted to water, while the hydrophobic tail is repelled by it. This leads to the formation of a lipid bilayer, with the hydrophilic heads facing outwards towards the water environment, and the hydrophobic tails facing inwards, away from the water. This structure forms the basis of the cell membrane, which separates the inside of the cell from the outside environment.
Amphiphiles are also used in the formulation of emulsions and nanoparticles, and as detergents, wetting agents, and emulsifiers in various industrial applications.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Amphiphile
- Wikipedia's article - Amphiphile
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