Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of triacylglycerols in the body?
What is the primary function of triacylglycerols in the body?
- To synthesize vitamins
- To store energy (correct)
- To regulate hormone production
- To produce bile acids
What is the term for a fatty acid with more than one double bond?
What is the term for a fatty acid with more than one double bond?
- Unsaturated fatty acid
- Saturated fatty acid
- Polyunsaturated fatty acid (correct)
- Essential fatty acid
What is the main characteristic that defines a lipid?
What is the main characteristic that defines a lipid?
- Role in energy storage
- Insolubility in water but solubility in fat and organic solvents (correct)
- Ability to form membranes
- Solubility in water
What is the name of the fatty acid with a double bond between carbon 9 and 10?
What is the name of the fatty acid with a double bond between carbon 9 and 10?
What is the term for a fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by the body?
What is the term for a fatty acid that cannot be synthesized by the body?
What is the name of the ester formed from three fatty acids and glycerol?
What is the name of the ester formed from three fatty acids and glycerol?
What is the primary role of bile acids in the body?
What is the primary role of bile acids in the body?
What is the term for a fatty acid with no double bonds?
What is the term for a fatty acid with no double bonds?
What is the effect of a double bond in fatty acid chains?
What is the effect of a double bond in fatty acid chains?
What is the function of the phosphate group in phospholipids?
What is the function of the phosphate group in phospholipids?
What is the main component of membranes?
What is the main component of membranes?
What is the function of the fatty acid tails in phospholipids?
What is the function of the fatty acid tails in phospholipids?
What is the name of the lipid that contains sphingosine and a single fatty acyl chain?
What is the name of the lipid that contains sphingosine and a single fatty acyl chain?
What is the name of the lipid raft component that is present in high amounts with cholesterol?
What is the name of the lipid raft component that is present in high amounts with cholesterol?
What is the name of the glycolipid that contains ceramide and oligosaccharide chains?
What is the name of the glycolipid that contains ceramide and oligosaccharide chains?
What is the name of the phospholipid head group that contains inositol?
What is the name of the phospholipid head group that contains inositol?
Study Notes
Lipid Structures
- Lipids are insoluble in water but soluble in fat and organic solvents
- Biological functions of lipids:
- Energy store (triacylglycerols)
- Precursors for vitamins and steroid hormones
- Bile acids
- Membrane structure
Fatty Acids
- Definition: Long-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids
- Can be:
- Saturated (e.g., myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid)
- Unsaturated (e.g., oleic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids)
- Δ symbol indicates the position of the double bond relative to the carboxylate group
- Presence of a double bond introduces a kink into the FA chain, reducing the ability of unsaturated FA to pack together
Triacylglycerols (Triacyclglycerols, TAG)
- Ester of three fatty acids and glycerol
- Stored in adipose tissue
- Function: Energy storage
Phospholipids
- Composed of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate-containing head group
- Major component of membranes
- Head group and phosphate are hydrophilic, while fatty acids are hydrophobic
- Phosphatidyl group consists of phosphate, glycerol, and fatty acid components
- Common head groups:
- Choline (Phosphatidylcholine, PC)
- Serine (Phosphatidylserine, PS)
- Ethanolamine (Phosphatidylethanolamine, PE)
- Inositol (Phosphatidylinositol, PI)
Glycolipids
- Composed of glycerol, two fatty acids, and a head group containing sugars
- Specialized part of membranes
- Can have monosaccharide or oligosaccharide chains
- Terminal sugar is often sialic acid
Sphingolipids
- Lipids that replace glycerol with sphingosine
- Sphingosine and a single fatty acyl chain form a unit called ceramide
- Ceramide is found in:
- Some phospholipids (e.g., sphingomyelin, SPH)
- Some glycolipids (e.g., GM1 ganglioside)
- Ceramide has various oligosaccharide chains attached
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Description
Test your understanding of lipid structures, membrane composition, and the fluid mosaic model, including the characteristics of membrane proteins and their orientation.
