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AAT Bioquest

What part of the cell membrane is hydrophilic?

Posted April 22, 2021


Answer

A hydrophilic part is water-loving. The part of the cell membrane that possesses the hydrophilic characteristic is the head of a phospholipid. It contains a negatively charged phosphate group. It also has an additional group that is small and charged. The heads of the phospholipid face outwards and are bilayers. They contact the aqueous liquid both inside and outside the cell. Water is a polar molecule. The polar nature of water makes it readily have charge-based interactions with phospholipid’s head.

Additional resources

Phenomenology and Kinetics of Lipid Bilayer Spreading on Hydrophilic Surfaces

Cell Meter™ JC-10 Mitochondrion Membrane Potential Assay Kit *Optimized for Flow Cytometry Assays*

Cell Structures and Organelles