22 Questions
What is the general formula for fatty acids?
R-COOH
What is the function of lipids in biological membranes?
Structural components
What are the two major roles of fatty acids in the body?
Components of more complex membrane lipids and stored fat
What are the oxidized derivatives of 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) called?
Eicosanoids
What is the function of lipophilic bile acids?
Lipid solubilization
What is the classification of biological molecules that are insoluble in aqueous solutions and soluble in organic solvents?
Lipids
What is the name of the 18-carbon amino alcohol with an unsaturated hydrocarbon chain?
Sphingosine
What is the function of lipids in the body, apart from energy reserves and structural components?
Vitamin and hormone synthesis
What is a potential consequence of consuming high amounts of omega-6 fats?
Contribution to many diseases
What property of triacylglycerols makes them efficient for storing energy?
They are neutral and nonpolar
How are fatty acids released from triacylglycerols during digestion?
Through lipase activity
What is the result of strong lipase activity during digestion?
Generation of monoacylglycerols
What is the common structural feature of all glycerol-based lipids?
A glycerol bound to a fatty acid or other group via an ester or ether linkage
What is the role of micelles in lipid digestion and absorption?
They aid in further lipid digestion and absorption from the small intestine
What is the characteristic of fatty acids with a cis configuration?
Typical in natural foods
What is the function of fatty acid synthase in the body?
To supply the body with all the various fatty acid structures needed
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have double bonds
What is the significance of the essential fatty acids, linoleic acid and linolenic acid?
They are the only fatty acids that cannot be synthesized from precursors in the body
What is the effect of double bonds on the melting point of fatty acids?
Double bonds significantly lower the melting point of fatty acids
How are fatty acids typically acquired in the body?
Through the diet
What is the significance of the carboxyl group in fatty acids?
It renders a negative charge onto fatty acids in bodily fluids
What is the notation used to describe the site of unsaturation in a fatty acid?
D and the number of the first carbon of the double bond
Study Notes
Lipids
- Lipids are biological molecules that are insoluble in aqueous solutions and soluble in organic solvents.
- They have four major functions:
- Serving as structural components of biological membranes
- Providing energy reserves, predominantly in the form of triacylglycerols
- Serving as vitamins and hormones
- Aiding in lipid solubilization through lipophilic bile acids
Fatty Acids
- Fatty acids are long-chain hydrocarbon molecules containing a carboxylic acid moiety at one end.
- They have two major roles in the body:
- As components of more complex membrane lipids
- As the major components of stored fat in the form of triacylglycerols
- Fatty acids can be classified into:
- Saturated fatty acids (no carbon-carbon double bonds)
- Unsaturated fatty acids (contain double bonds)
- Fatty acids with cis configuration are typical in natural foods, while trans fatty acids are formed during hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
- The site of unsaturation in a fatty acid is indicated by the symbol Δ and the number of the first carbon of the double bond.
Essential Fatty Acids
- The majority of body fatty acids are acquired in the diet, but the lipid biosynthetic capacity of the body can supply the body with most fatty acid structures.
- Two key exceptions are the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and linolenic acid, which cannot be synthesized from precursors in the body and must be provided in the diet.
- Omega-6 fats are mainly divided into four types: LA (linoleic acid), GLA (gamma linoleic acid), ARA (arachidonic acid), and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid).
Triacylglycerols
- Triacylglycerols are neutral and nonpolar lipids that allow them to be stored in anhydrous environments and do not expand due to uptake of water.
- They are space-saving, efficient molecules for storing energy.
- Fatty acids can be released from their triacylglycerols via lipase activity.
- During digestion, lipases release fatty acids in the gastrointestinal tract, forming stable micelles that aid in further lipid digestion and absorption.
This quiz covers the chemistry of carbohydrates and lipids, including fatty acids, triacylglcerols, glycerophospholipids, and more. Test your knowledge of lipid structures and functions.
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