42 Questions
What determines the classification of fatty acids based on chain length?
Number of carbon atoms
What is a characteristic of the carbon chains in fatty acids?
They are unbranched
What is unique about the configuration of double bonds in fatty acids?
They are always in a CIS configuration
Which of the following is a general feature of fatty acids?
They always have an even number of carbon atoms
What makes fatty acids amphipathic?
The polar carboxyl group and non-polar carbon chain
What is a characteristic of saturated fatty acids?
They have no double bonds
What is the solubility of the fatty acid tail?
Fat soluble and water insoluble
What is an example of a short-chain fatty acid?
Butyric acid
What is the function of membrane lipids in a cell?
To separate the cell from its environment
What is the backbone of glycerophospholipids?
Glycerol
What is the backbone of a Sphingoglycolipid?
Sphingosine
What type of linkage connects the carbohydrate to the Sphingosine backbone?
Glycosidic linkage
What is the name of the simplest phospholipid?
Phosphatidic acid
What is the percentage of membrane lipids in the cell membrane?
80% of the mass
What is the source of Cerebroside, a type of Sphingoglycolipid?
Primary in the brain
What is the purpose of saponification in soap making?
To create a cleaning agent
What is the function of Cerebroside in the body?
Insulation of nerve fibers
What is the specific fatty acid attached to the Sphingosine backbone in Sphingomyelin?
Stearic acid
What is the name of the process that creates soap?
Saponification
What is the term for lipids that contain a phosphate group?
Phospholipids
What is the specific carbohydrate attached to the Sphingosine backbone in Sphingomyelin?
Galactose
What is the type of Sphingophospholipid that has a single monosaccharide unit?
Cerebroside
What is the backbone of sphingophospholipids?
Sphingosine
What is the term for lipids that are part of the cell membrane?
Membrane lipids
Where is Cerebroside primarily found in the nervous system?
Myelin sheath of nerves
What is the term for the combination of fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to a platform molecule?
Phospholipid
What is the chain starting with the carbonyl group (C=O) classified as?
Fatty acid residue
What is the function of biological waxes in relation to hair and skin?
To protect and lubricate it
What is stearic acid classified as?
Fatty acid
What is the function of biological waxes in relation to animal fur?
To impart water repellency
What is the disadvantage of having oily skin in younger humans?
It triggers formation of acne
What is the advantage of having oily skin as humans age?
It prevents formation of wrinkles
What is the primary function of aldosterone?
To strike a balance between electrolytes and sodium and potassium ions
What is the source of prostaglandin?
Prostate gland and other tissues in both males and females
What is the function of thromboxane?
To form blood clots
What is the precursor or mother of all eicosanoids?
Arachidonic acid
What is unique about the structure of leukotriene?
It has 3 conjugated double bonds
What is the function of cortisol and cortisone?
To produce anti-inflammatory responses
What is the main difference between hormones and eicosanoids?
Hormones perform their function in the environment where they are synthesized, while eicosanoids do not
What is the function of leukotriene in the body?
To produce anti-inflammatory responses and aid in blood clotting
What is the characteristic of eicosanoids that distinguishes them from hormones?
They perform their function in the environment where they are synthesized
What is the structure of prostaglandin?
It has a cyclopentane ring and oxygen-containing functional groups
Study Notes
Fatty Acids: General Structure
- Fatty acids have a general structure consisting of a hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end and a methyl group at the other end.
- The hydrocarbon chain is non-polar and water-insoluble, while the carboxyl group is polar and water-soluble, making fatty acids amphipathic.
- Fatty acids can be classified based on the length of their carbon chains, with short-chain fatty acids having 4-6 carbon atoms, medium-chain fatty acids having 8-10 carbon atoms, and long-chain fatty acids having more than 10 carbon atoms.
Fatty Acids: Features
- Fatty acids almost always have an even number of carbon atoms.
- Fatty acids have unbranched carbon chains.
- Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
- When present, double bonds in fatty acids are in the cis configuration.
Lipids: Types
- Lipids can be classified into different types based on their structure and function.
- The main types of lipids are fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and sterols.
Phospholipids
- Phospholipids are a type of lipid that has a phosphate group and a glycerol or sphingosine backbone.
- Phospholipids are amphipathic, with a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head.
- Phospholipids are important components of cell membranes, making up about 80% of the mass of the cell membrane.
- Phospholipids have a platform molecule to which the fatty acids and phosphate group are attached.
Glycerophospholipids
- Glycerophospholipids are a type of phospholipid that has a glycerol backbone.
- The simplest glycerophospholipid is phosphatidic acid.
- Phosphatidic acid is a precursor to other phospholipids.
Sphingophospholipids
- Sphingophospholipids are a type of phospholipid that has a sphingosine backbone.
- Sphingophospholipids have an amino alcohol and a phosphate group.
- Sphingophospholipids are similar to glycerophospholipids, but with a sphingosine backbone instead of glycerol.
Sphingoglycolipids
- Sphingoglycolipids are a type of lipid that has a sphingosine backbone and a carbohydrate attached.
- The carbohydrate is attached to the sphingosine backbone through a glycosidic linkage.
- Sphingoglycolipids are found in the brain and are important components of the myelin sheath of nerve cells.
Eicosanoids
- Eicosanoids are a type of lipid that is synthesized from arachidonic acid in response to an external stimulus.
- Eicosanoids have profound physiological effects at extremely low concentrations.
- Eicosanoids are not stored in cells and are synthesized in response to a stimulus.
Prostaglandins
- Prostaglandins are a type of eicosanoid that has a cyclopentane ring and oxygen-containing functional groups.
- Prostaglandins are synthesized from the prostate gland and other tissues in both males and females.
- Prostaglandins have a variety of functions, including regulating the sleep and wake cycle.
Thromboxanes
- Thromboxanes are a type of eicosanoid that has a cyclic ether and is synthesized from blood platelets.
- Thromboxanes aid in the formation of blood clots.
Leukotrienes
- Leukotrienes are a type of eicosanoid that has 3 conjugated double bonds and is synthesized from white blood cells.
- Leukotrienes aid in blood clotting and have anti-inflammatory and hypersensitivity responses.
Waxes
- Waxes are a type of lipid that is water-insoluble and water-repellant.
- Waxes are secreted from skin glands in humans and animals.
- Waxes protect hair and skin, keeping it pliable and lubricated.
- Waxes can also impart water repellency to animal fur.
This quiz covers the general structure of fatty acids, including the length of their carbon chains, degree of saturation, and position of double bonds. It also explores the differences between shorter and saturated fatty acids.
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