Lipids PDF

Lipids Lipids Definition Simply defined as hydrocarbon (CH)…….. CHO/ stands for carbohydrates “Lipids are organic compounds that contain hydrogen, carbon, and sometimes may contain oxygen atoms, which forms the framework for the structure and function of living cells.” What are Lipids? 1. The...

Lipids Lipids Definition Simply defined as hydrocarbon (CH)…….. CHO/ stands for carbohydrates “Lipids are organic compounds that contain hydrogen, carbon, and sometimes may contain oxygen atoms, which forms the framework for the structure and function of living cells.” What are Lipids? 1. These organic compounds are nonpolar molecules 2. Which are soluble only in nonpolar solvents ( organic solv.) 3. insoluble in water because water is a polar solvent 4. In the human body, these molecules can be synthesized in the liver and are found in oil, butter, whole milk, cheese, fried foods and in some red meats. The lipid structure, properties, types and classification of lipids. Properties of Lipids 1. lipids are a family of organic compounds 2. Present in two forms (fats and oils).  3. these molecules yield high energy (each gram of lipid contains an amount of energy that equal to 2.25 gm of either proteins or carbohydrates)/ richest source of energy 4. and are responsible for different functions within the human body. Some important characteristics of Lipids. 1. lipids are oily or greasy 2. nonpolar molecules 3. stored in the adipose tissue of the body. 4. lipids are a heterogeneous group of compounds, mainly composed of hydrocarbon chains. 5. lipids are energy-rich organic molecules, which provide energy for different life processes. 6. lipids are a class of compounds characterized by their solubility in nonpolar solvents and insolubility in water. 7. lipids are significant in biological systems as they form a mechanical barrier dividing a cell from the external environment known as the cell membrane/ plasma membranes. Lipid Structure Can be divided into two types: A) That does not contain fatty acids e.g. cholesterol and terpenes B) That contains fatty acids besides glycerol e.g. fats, phospholipids and waxes Fats (function) = glycerol + fatty acid/s (1 to 3) Phospholipids (structural)= glycerol + fatty acid/s (1 or 2 only) + one phosphate group FA is amphipathic in nature Lipids are (not exactly polymers) but macromolecules Some contain /composed of fatty acids that contain a long, non-polar hydrocarbon chain with a small polar region containing oxygen. The lipid structure is explained in the diagram below: Which divided into two types according to sources (F.A.): 1. Plant / unsaturated / liquid at room temperature / olive oil 2. Animal/ saturated/ solid at RT / Ghee 3. With exceptional (unsaturated / liquid /fatty acids from fish) Even ( C atoms in FA) = 1 at head + odd at tail Saturated …. Linear Unsaturated ……. Kink  The no. of C atoms in any fatty acid is even in number (one in head and odd in tail) 10:0 ( 9 +1) (no of double bonds =0) saturated / linear/ solid at RT/ animal/ ghee 10:1 ( 9+1) ( single double bonds) unsaturated/ kink/ liquid at RT/ plant or fish/ olive oil/ fish oil 10:2 (9 +1) ( two double bonds) / Unsaturated / Plant or Fish 10:2 ( position of = bond/s Delta Classification of Lipids Lipids can be classified into two main classes: (FA) Nonsaponifiable lipids (without fatty acids) Saponifiable lipids (with fatty acids) Fatty acids are amphipathic in nature (polar head and nonpolar tail) Nonsaponifiable lipids Does not contain fatty acid (non-saponifiable) lipid and cannot be disintegrated into smaller molecules through hydrolysis. Nonsaponifiable lipids include cholesterol, terpenes, prostaglandins, etc. Saponifiable Lipids A saponifiable lipid comprises one or more ester groups, enabling it to undergo hydrolysis in the presence of a base, acid, or enzymes, including waxes, FAT/ triglyceride (triacylgycerol), sphingolipids and phospholipids (Cell membrane / plasma membrane). Further, these categories can be divided into non-polar and polar lipids. Nonpolar lipids, namely triglycerides, are utilized as fuel and to store energy. Polar lipids, that could form a barrier with an external water environment, are utilized in membranes. Polar lipids comprise sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids. Fatty acids are pivotal components of all these lipids. Types of Lipids Within these two major classes of lipids, there are numerous specific types of lipids important to live, including fatty acids, (FATS) triglycerides, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and steroids. These are broadly classified as simple lipids and complex lipids. Also read: Biomolecules in Living Organisms Lipids with fatty acids: Esters of fatty acids with various alcohols. 1. Fats: Esters of fatty acid/s with glycerol. Oils are fats in the liquid state 2. Waxes: Esters of fatty acids with higher molecular weight monohydric alcohols Complex Lipids = Glycerol + FA + X- group Esters of fatty acids containing groups in addition to alcohol and a fatty acid. 1. Phospholipids: These are lipids containing, in addition to fatty acids and alcohol, a phosphoric acid residue. They frequently have nitrogen-containing bases and other substituents, eg, in glycerophospholipids, the alcohol is glycerol and in sphingophospholipids, the alcohol is sphingosine. 2. Glycolipids (glycosphingolipids): Lipids containing a fatty acid, sphingosine and carbohydrate. 3. Other complex lipids: Lipids such as sulfa-lipids and amino lipids. Lipoproteins/ proto-lipid may also be placed in this category. 4. Lipoproteins ….. HDL, LDL and VLDL Precursor and Derived Lipids These include fatty acids, glycerol, steroids, other alcohols, fatty aldehydes, and ketone bodies, hydrocarbons, lipid-soluble vitamins, and hormones. Because they are uncharged, acylglycerols (glycerides), cholesterol, and cholesteryl esters are termed neutral lipids. These compounds are produced by the hydrolysis of simple and complex lipids. Some of the different types of lipids are described below in detail. Fatty Acids Fatty acids are carboxylic acids (or organic acid), usually with long aliphatic tails (long chains), either unsaturated or saturated. Saturated fatty acids Lack of carbon-carbon double bonds indicate that the fatty acid is saturated. The saturated fatty acids have higher melting points compared to unsaturated acids of the corresponding size due to their ability to pack their molecules together thus leading to a straight rod-like shape. Unsaturated fatty acids Unsaturated fatty acid is indicated when a fatty acid has more than one double bond. “Often, naturally occurring fatty acids possesses an even number of carbon atoms and are unbranched.” On the other hand, unsaturated fatty acids contain a cis-double bond(s) which create a structural kink that disables them to group their molecules in straight rod-like shape. Role of Fats Fats play several major roles in our body. Some of the important roles of fats are mentioned below: Fats in the correct amounts are necessary for the proper functioning of our body. Many fat-soluble vitamins need to be associated with fats in order to be effectively absorbed by the body. They also provide insulation to the body. They are an efficient way to store energy for longer periods. Also Read: Fats Waxes Waxes are “esters” (an organic compound made by replacing the hydrogen with acid by an alkyl or another organic group) formed from long-alcohols and long-chain carboxylic acids. Waxes are found almost everywhere. Fruits and leaves of many plants possess waxy coatings that can safeguard them from small predators and dehydration. Fur of a few animals and the feathers of birds possess same coatings serving as water repellants. Carnauba wax is known for its water resistance and toughness (significant for car wax). Phospholipids Membranes are primarily composed of phospholipids that are Phosphoacylglycerols. Triacylglycerols and phosphoacylglycerols are the same, but, the terminal OH group of the phosphoacylglycerol is esterified with phosphoric acid in place of fatty acid which results in the formation of phosphatidic acid. The name phospholipid is derived from the fact that phosphoacylglycerols are lipids containing a phosphate group. Steroids Our bodies possess chemical messengers known as hormones, that are basically organic compounds synthesized in glands and transported by the bloodstream to various tissues in order to trigger or hinder the desired process. Steroids are a kind of hormone that is typically recognized by their tetracyclic skeleton, composed of three fused six-membered and one five-membered ring, as seen above. The four rings are assigned as A, B, C & D as observed in the shade blue, while the numbers in red indicate the carbons. Cholesterol Cholesterol is a wax-like substance, found only in animal source foods. Triglycerides, LDL, HDL, VLDL are different types of cholesterol found in the blood cells. Cholesterol is an important lipid (free of fatty acids) found in the animal cell membrane. It is a sterol, which means that cholesterol is a combination of steroid and alcohol. In the human body, cholesterol is synthesized in the liver.  These compounds are biosynthesized by all living cells and are essential for the structural component of the cell membrane/ plasma membrane. In the cell membrane, the steroid ring structure of cholesterol provides a rigid hydrophobic structure that helps boost the rigidity of the cell membrane. Without cholesterol, the cell membrane would be too fluid. It is an important component of cell membranes and is also the basis for the synthesis of other steroids, including the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, as well as other steroids such as cortisone and vitamin D. Examples of Lipids There are different types of lipids. Some examples of lipids include butter, ghee, vegetable oil, cheese, cholesterol and other steroids, waxes, phospholipids, and fat-soluble vitamins. All these compounds have similar features, i.e. insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents, etc. Also Refer: Vitamins and Minerals To know more about lipids, its definition, classification, lipid structure, types and other related topics, keep visiting BYJU’S Biology Frequently Asked Questions What are lipids? Lipids are organic compounds that are fatty acids or derivatives of fatty acids, which are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. For eg., natural oil, steroid, waxes. How are lipids important to our body? Lipids play a very important role in our body. They are the structural component of the cell membrane. They help in providing energy and produce hormones in our body. They help in proper digestion and absorption of food. They are a healthy part of our diet if taken in proper amounts. They also play an important role in signaling. How are lipids digested? The enzyme lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids and glycerol, which is facilitated by bile in the liver. What is lipid emulsion? It refers to an emulsion of lipid for human intravenous use. These are also referred to as intralipids which is the emulsion of soybean oil, glycerin and egg phospholipids. It is available in 10%, 20% and 30% concentrations. How are lipids metabolized? Lipid metabolism involves oxidation of fatty acids to generate energy to synthesize new lipids from smaller molecules. The metabolism of lipids is associated with carbohydrate metabolism as the products of glucose are converted into lipids. How are lipids released in the blood? The medium-chain triglycerides with 8-12 carbons are digested and absorbed in the small intestine. Since lipids are insoluble in water, they are carried to the bloodstream by lipoproteins which are water-soluble and can carry the lipids internally. What are the main types of lipids? There are two major types of lipids- simple lipids and complex lipids. Simple lipids are esters of fatty acids with various alcohols. For eg., fats and waxes. On the contrary, complex lipids are esters of fatty acids with groups other than alcohol and fatty acids. For eg., phospholipids and sphingolipids. What are lipids made up of? Lipids are made up of a glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acid molecules. Such a lipid is called triglyceride.