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Questions and Answers
Which of the following accurately describes a phospholipid?
Which of the following accurately describes a phospholipid?
What components make up a basic phospholipid?
What components make up a basic phospholipid?
Which of the following is a characteristic of sphingolipids?
Which of the following is a characteristic of sphingolipids?
What distinguishes a sphingophospholipid from other sphingolipids?
What distinguishes a sphingophospholipid from other sphingolipids?
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What type of bond links the fatty acid to sphingosine in ceramides?
What type of bond links the fatty acid to sphingosine in ceramides?
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Phosphatidylcholine can also be referred to as what?
Phosphatidylcholine can also be referred to as what?
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Which class of lipids includes compounds that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties?
Which class of lipids includes compounds that have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties?
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Which statement about X-groups in phospholipids is true?
Which statement about X-groups in phospholipids is true?
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What type of sphingolipid is specifically associated with galactose?
What type of sphingolipid is specifically associated with galactose?
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Which of the following best describes the character of waxes?
Which of the following best describes the character of waxes?
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Which component is NOT typically found in terpenes?
Which component is NOT typically found in terpenes?
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What structural feature do complex derivatives of triterpenes possess?
What structural feature do complex derivatives of triterpenes possess?
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What is increased in rigidity for sphingolipids when the hydrocarbon chain length and saturation degree are higher?
What is increased in rigidity for sphingolipids when the hydrocarbon chain length and saturation degree are higher?
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What does ω-3 signify in fatty acid nomenclature?
What does ω-3 signify in fatty acid nomenclature?
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What is the main function of triacylglycerols in animals?
What is the main function of triacylglycerols in animals?
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How are double bonds in fatty acids typically configured?
How are double bonds in fatty acids typically configured?
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What type of reaction forms the ester bond in triacylglycerols?
What type of reaction forms the ester bond in triacylglycerols?
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What are adipocytes primarily responsible for?
What are adipocytes primarily responsible for?
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Which of the following statements about fatty acid identification is true?
Which of the following statements about fatty acid identification is true?
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Where in the body are adipose tissues primarily located?
Where in the body are adipose tissues primarily located?
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What type of fatty acid is indicated by the abbreviation '16:0'?
What type of fatty acid is indicated by the abbreviation '16:0'?
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What is the major structural component of lipids?
What is the major structural component of lipids?
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Which of the following classes of lipids are considered signaling molecules?
Which of the following classes of lipids are considered signaling molecules?
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What differentiates saturated fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids?
What differentiates saturated fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids?
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Which type of fatty acid has a hydrocarbon chain length greater than 22 carbons?
Which type of fatty acid has a hydrocarbon chain length greater than 22 carbons?
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What structural feature do unsaturated fatty acids have that affects their melting point?
What structural feature do unsaturated fatty acids have that affects their melting point?
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Which of the following statements is true regarding fatty acids?
Which of the following statements is true regarding fatty acids?
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What is the primary function of lipids in the cell membrane?
What is the primary function of lipids in the cell membrane?
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What type of lipid serves as a reservoir of energy within cells?
What type of lipid serves as a reservoir of energy within cells?
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Which type of fatty acid has a hydrocarbon chain length of less than 6 carbons?
Which type of fatty acid has a hydrocarbon chain length of less than 6 carbons?
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Which class of lipids includes modified fatty acids like branched and cyclic forms?
Which class of lipids includes modified fatty acids like branched and cyclic forms?
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What is one function of cholesterol in the body?
What is one function of cholesterol in the body?
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Which type of lipoprotein has the highest percentage of protein?
Which type of lipoprotein has the highest percentage of protein?
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What is the primary function of bile acids?
What is the primary function of bile acids?
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Which of the following is NOT a family of steroid hormones?
Which of the following is NOT a family of steroid hormones?
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What distinguishes LDL from HDL lipoproteins in terms of function?
What distinguishes LDL from HDL lipoproteins in terms of function?
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What is cholesteryl ester?
What is cholesteryl ester?
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What is the density classification range for VLDL?
What is the density classification range for VLDL?
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Which of the following is NOT associated with sterols in plants and fungi?
Which of the following is NOT associated with sterols in plants and fungi?
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Study Notes
Biomolecules II: Lipids
- Lipids are fats or lipo-
- Not a polymer, insoluble in water but soluble in nonpolar solvents
- Hydrophobic
- Diverse structures and functions
- General structure: polar hydrophilic head attached to nonpolar hydrophobic tails
Topic Learning Outcomes
- Identify lipids among other biomolecules
- Differentiate between major lipid classes structurally (e.g., fatty acids, triacylglycerols, phospholipids, sphingolipids, waxes, isoprenoids, lipoproteins)
- Relate lipid structure to function
What is a Lipid?
- Lipids are not a true polymer
- Insoluble in water
- Soluble in nonpolar solvents
- Hydrocarbon chains often present
- Various structures and functions
- Polar hydrophilic head attached to nonpolar hydrophobic tail
Functions of Lipids
- Membrane components
- Intracellular energy reservoir
- Insulator
- Protects surfaces
- Specialized functions, including:
- Steroid hormones
- Eicosanoids (signalling molecules)
- Gangliosides (modulators in cell signal transduction)
Classes of Lipids
- Triacylglycerols
- Sphingolipids
- Terpenes and steroids
Fatty Acids
- Carboxylic acids with a long hydrocarbon side chain
- Differ from each other by:
- Position of double bonds in the hydrocarbon chain
- Branched or cyclic structures
- Exist freely or attached to other molecules.
- Saturated vs Unsaturated:
- Saturated - only single bonds. High melting point, solid at room temperature.
- Unsaturated - one or more double bonds. Lower melting point, liquid at room temperature; kink in the chain
Types of Fatty Acids: Degree of Unsaturation
- Saturated fatty acid: contains only single bonds
- Linear form, High melting point, exist as solids
- Unsaturated fatty acid: contains one or more double bonds
- Kink in the chain, low melting point, exists as liquids
- Mono, di, or polyunsaturated, depending on number of double bonds
- Cis vs trans:
- Cis: hydrogen atoms are on same side of the double bond
- Trans: hydrogen atoms on opposite sides of the double bond
Types of Fatty Acids: Length of Hydrocarbon Chain
- Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) <6 carbons
- Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) 6-12 carbons
- Long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) >12 carbons
- Very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) >22 carbons
How a Fatty Acid is Abbreviated
- Saturated: number of carbons: 0 (e.g., 16:0)
- Unsaturated: number of carbons: number of double bonds, placement of double bonds (e.g., 18:1(Δ9))
Phospholipids
- Lipids with amphiphilic molecules (both hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts)
- Essential components of cell membranes, act as surface active agents (surfactants), and emulsifying agents
- Phospholipid bilayer structure is essential for membrane structure
Phospholipid Structure
- Two fatty acid chains attached to glycerol
- Phosphate group attached to glycerol
- Hydrophilic head (frequently a choline group), and hydrophobic tails
Types of Sphingolipids
- Sphingophospholipids: phosphorus-containing molecules found mainly in nerve and brain cell membranes
- Sphingoglycolipids : ceramide with one or more sugar residues
- Ceramide: fatty acid joined to sphingosine via an amide bond
Waxes
- Esters of long-chain alcohols and long-chain fatty acids
- Weakly polar head group attached to 2 hydrocarbon chains
- Highly insoluble in water – water repellant
- Functions: energy storage; structural components; increased rigidity with hydrocarbon chain length and saturation degree
- Examples: beeswax, carnauba wax, spermaceti wax
Terpenes
- Contain repeating isoprene units
- Mostly hydrocarbons but some contain oxygen
- Found in essential oils – e.g. limonene, citronellal, menthol
Steroids
- Complex derivatives of triterpenes; squalene
- Consist of membered rings (A, B, C, and D) fused together (e.g., cyclopentanoperhydrophenantrene)
- Examples: cholesterol, sterols, hormones, bile acids
Cholesterol
- Sterol in animals; principal component of animal cell membranes
- Weakly amphiphilic and rigid
- Cholesteryl ester: ester of cholesterol between -COO of fatty acid and -OH of cholesterol
- Functions of Cholesterol: precursor to steroid hormones, formation of bile acids
Lipoproteins
- Any lipids covalently linked to proteins
- Found in blood plasma
- Transport lipids, phospholipids, and cholesterol in the bloodstream
- Classified according to density
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Description
Test your knowledge of lipids, their structures, and functions. This quiz covers key aspects of lipid classification, identifying major lipid types such as fatty acids and phospholipids, and understanding their roles in biological systems. Dive in to see how well you understand these essential biomolecules!