Th01L03 Lipids

Th01L03 Lipids

1. Properties

   • Glycerol backbone and fatty acid
     • Fused via dehydration synthesis
     • Ester bond
     • Called a triglyceride
   • Hydrophobic
     • Insoluble in water
     • Soluble in oil and inorganic solvents

2. Fatty acid

   • A long hydrocarbon chain
   • Ampiphatic
     • hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
       • Hydrocarbon tail
       • Carboxylic head
   • Metabolised via beta-oxidation pathway to generate ATP
   • Types
     • Saturated
       • Found in meat and dairy products
       • Three straight fatty acid chains
         • Contains the maximum number of hydrogens based on carbons
       • No double bounds between its carbon atoms
       • Examples: Palmitic acid C16:0 • Stearic acid C18:0
     • Unsaturated
       • Found in plant oils
       • Maybe mono- or polyunsaturated
         • Contains one or more double bonds between its carbon atoms resulting in non- straight fatty acids
       • Examples • Oleic acid C18:1 • Lionleic acid 18:2

3. Biological functions

   • Long-term storage
     • Adipose tissue
     • Fatty acid tails can be release and broken down into two-carbon units needed for the TCA cycle
   • Phospholipids
     • Glycerol plus 2 fatty acids + phosphate containing group
     • Example of a glycolipid
     • Found in membranes forming phospholipid bilayers
     • Amphipathic
       • Polar (carboxyl) group, non-polar fatty acid tails
         • spontaneously form bi-layer in aqueous membrane

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