Final answer:
Hydrophobic lipids become soluble in the cytoplasm by being coated with proteins, which facilitate their transport and function within the aqueous cellular environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lipids are a highly diverse group of compounds that are inherently hydrophobic due to their non-polar hydrocarbon chains. In the cytoplasm, hydrophobic lipids become soluble by being coated with proteins. This coating allows them to be transported in the aqueous environment of the cell. This process is critical, for example, in the structure of phospholipids, which are a major component of cell membranes, helping to form the bilayer that defines the boundaries of cells.
In the context of nerve cells, the myelin sheath is composed of both lipids and proteins, which shows again the intimate relationship between these two types of macromolecules within biological systems. Overall, proteins play a key role in modulating the solubility and function of lipids within the body.