Lipid rafts are rich in both glycosphingolipids and choleste

Lipid rafts are rich in both glycosphingolipids and cholesterol, and it is thought that cholesterol plays a central role in raft formation since lipid rafts apparently do not form in its absence. Why do you suppose that cholesterol is essential for formation of lipid rafts?

Solution

Cholesterol is the important component of lipid raft in the cell membrane. Raft are rich in sphingolipids and cholesterol. Phospholipid along saturated fatty acid provide close packing of lipids within raft.Cholestrol play important role in raft stability and organization.They interact with sphingolipids due to their structure and saturation of hydrocarbon chain . It acts as a dynamic glue that holds raft together in place.