Describe the three important parts of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, consists of three main parts: 1. Lipid A: The hydrophobic portion that anchors the LPS molecule in the bacterial membrane and is responsible for the toxic effects of endotoxins. 2. Core oligosaccharide: A short chain of sugar molecules that links Lipid A to the O-antigen. 3. O-antigen: A repeating polysaccharide structure that extends outward from the bacterial surface and is responsible for antigenic variation, allowing bacteria to evade the host immune system.