Topic 5d: lipids

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fats and oils: the most abundant, provide energy, act as storage, insulate body organs, transport vitamins through the blood. AKA triacyclglycerols or triglycerides

2 main components: glycerol and fatty acids

Fatty acids are attached to each of the 3 carbons of glycerol via ester bond

Can be hydrolyzed in the presence of an acid, base, or lipases

Saponification: hydrolysis of fats and oils in the presence of a base to make soap

Phospholipids: glycerol + 2 fatty acids + phosphate group modified by an alcohol (the polar part)

Phosphatidate: diacylglycerol + phosphate group is the precursor to phospholipids

Sphingolipids: phospholipids or glycolipids that contain sphingosine instead of glycerol

Waxes: used for protection by animals and plants

Steroids: 4 fused ring structure, may also have a short tail.

Many have a hydroxyl functional group (these are sterols).

Cholesterol is the precursor to vitamin D, testosterone, estrogen, aldosterone, cortisol, and bile salts, and other hormones.

terpenes are used to form steroids in the process of biosynthesis

prostaglandins: fatty acid derivatives that are biologically active locally in the tissue where they are produced.

They are hormones created during a chemical reaction at site of injury or tissue damage.

Unique among hormones because they are not secreted by a gland.

Seite 2

building blocks of cells, made up of hydrocarbons

many forms, the most abundant being fats and oils

function/importance in nature: energy source for living organisms, insulate organs, and transport fat-soluble vitamins in the blood

fats, aka triacylglycerols, aka triglycerides: made up of glycerol and fatty acids. 3 fatty acids attached to glycerol via ester bond

saponification: hydrolysis of a fat or oil in the presence of a base to make soap

phospholipids

made up of glycerol, 2 fatty acids, and a phosphate group modified by an alcohol

phosphatidate: the precursor to phospholipids, phosphate group attached to diagylcerol

sphingolipids: contain sphingosine instead of glycerol

waxes: found in plants and animals for protection

steroids: lipids made of rings

made from terpenes: 5 carbon chains bonded together

hormones

prostaglandins: hormones created via chemical reactions at the site of injury