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AAT Bioquest

Are all phospholipids zwitterionic?

Posted July 2, 2021


Answer

About 75% of phospholipids are zwitterionic. Phospholipids generally make up the outer layer of the membrane bilayer of a mammalian cell. 75% of these phospholipids have head groups with a perfectly balanced positive and negative charge, resulting in a net neutral charge, which makes them zwitterionic.

Additional resources

Zwitterionic Phospholipids and Sterols Modulate Antimicrobial Peptide-Induced Membrane Destabilization

C1-Bodi Fluor 500/510-C12 [equivalent to BODIPY® 500/510 C1, C12]