Question

Why can’t triacylglycerols be significant components of lipid bilayers?

Short answer

Phosphate is absent in triglycerides.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Many other organic compounds other than lipids are insoluble in water. such as alkanes that are insoluble in water are referred to as a lipid. They areenergy storage molecules and chemical messengers that include fats, waxes, oils, hormones, and some membrane components.

Lipid bilayer

Due to the existence of an aliphatic component in fatty acid chains,triacylglycerols are insoluble in water. Triacylglycerols are unable to form a bilayerdue to the absence of a polar head group. The non-polar acyl chain on the interior would have to be masked, and the glycerol molecule would have to be present on the surface in contact with water to create a lipid bilayer for the triacylglycerols.

Conclusion

Thus, triglyceride isunable to create a lipid bilayer because of the absence of a polar head group.