Definition of lipophilic in English:
lipophilic
adjectiveˌlɪpə(ʊ)ˈfɪlɪkˌlʌɪpə(ʊ)ˈfɪlɪkˌlipəˈfilik
Biochemistry Tending to combine with or dissolve in lipids or fats.
Example sentencesExamples
- Cholesterol, which is far more lipophilic than the hormones, associates tightly with the bilayer and does not cross it at all.
- Due to its lipophilic nature, vitamin E accumulates in cellular membranes, fat deposits and other circulating lipoproteins.
- The lipophilic part inserts into one or both leaflets of the lipid membrane and can consist of phospholipids, cholesterols, alkyl chains or phytanyl groups.
- In the presence of lipophilic carrier proteins the removal is accelerated.
- If we turn now to the liposomal membrane, a gradient of solvent polarity is expected within the bilayer, increasing as one goes from deep within the lipophilic bilayer out toward the aqueous phase.