Which component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is primarily responsible for its endotoxin activity?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about the specific component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is mainly accountable for its endotoxin properties. To answer this, we need to identify which of the provided options is recognized for its role in the toxic effect of LPS.
Answer
Lipid A.
The component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) primarily responsible for its endotoxin activity is lipid A.
Answer for screen readers
The component of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) primarily responsible for its endotoxin activity is lipid A.
More Information
Lipid A acts as the hydrophobic anchor of the lipopolysaccharide structure and is a glucosamine-based phospholipid responsible for triggering immune responses in host organisms.
Tips
Avoid confusing the structure of LPS, which also consists of core oligosaccharide and O-antigen, with the bioactivity, which is primarily due to lipid A.
Sources
- Lipopolysaccharide Endotoxins - PMC - PubMed Central - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Lipid A and bacterial lipopolysaccharides - LIPID MAPS - lipidmaps.org
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