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Lipids
Summary
Classification of Lipids Lipids are a family of naturally occurring compounds grouped together on the basis of their relative insolubility in water and solubility in nonpolar solvents
Fatty Acids A fatty acid consists of a long nonpolar chain of carbon atoms, with a polar carboxylic acid group at one end
They may be saturated, unsaturated, or polyunsaturated (containing two or more double bonds) Fats and oils are simple lipids that are esters of glycerol and fatty acids
The difference between fats and oils is the melting point, which is essentially a function of the fatty acids in the compound
Chemical Properties of Fats and Oils Fats and oils can be hydrolyzed in the presence of acid to produce glycerol and fatty acids. When the hydrolysis reaction is carried out in the presence of a strong base, salts of the fatty acids (soaps) are produced
During hydrogenation, some multiple bonds of unsaturated fatty acids contained in fats or oils are reacted with hydrogen and converted to single bonds
Waxes Waxes are simple lipids composed of a fatty acid esterified with a long-chain alcohol. Waxes are insoluble in water and serve as protective coatings in nature Phosphoglycerides. Phosphoglycerides consist of glycerol esterified to two fatty acids and phosphoric acid
The phosphoric acid is further esterified to choline (in the lecithins) and to ethanolamine or serine (in the cephalins) The phosphoglycerides are particularly important in membrane formation
Sphingolipids These complex lipids contain a backbone of sphingosine rather than glycerol and only one fatty acid component
Biological Membranes Membranes surround tissue cells as a selective barrier, and they encase the organelles found in eucaryotic cells
Membranes contain both proteins and lipids According to the fluid mosaic model, the lipids are arranged in a bilayer fashion with the hydrophobic portions on the insider of the bilayer
Steroids Steroids are compounds that have four rings fused together in a specific way
The most abundant steroid in humans is cholesterol, which serves as a starting material for other important steroids such as the bile salts, adrenocorticoid hormones, and the sex hormones
Steroid Hormones Hormones are chemical messengers, synthesized by specific glands, that affect various target tissues in the body
The adrenal cortex produces a number of steroid hormones that regulate carbohydrate utilization (the glucocorticoids) and electrolyte balance (the mineralocorticoids)
The testes and ovaries produce steroid hormones that determine secondary sexual characteristics and regulate the menstrual cycle in females
Prostaglandins These compounds are synthesized from the 20carbon fatty acid ai:achidonic acid
They exert many hormone-like effects on the body and are used therapeutically to induce. labor, treat asthma, and control gastric secretions
Formative Assessment
Biologically significant fatty acids typically have an ____ number of carbons. even odd either
even
Which of the following was first isolated from seminal fluid? micelles steroids prostaglandins terpenes
prostaglandins
Fatty acids are bound to glycerol by forming a(n): ether aldehyde ester glycoside sp hybrid
ester
What material is used to help disperse fats in the digestive system. prostoglandins steroids terpenes bile oxytocin
bile
Which of the following contains a choline component? prostaglandins inositols glycolipids cephalins lechthins
lechthins
steroid
The end
Further Study: Biochemistry and Cell Biology College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University - Biochemistry Online Indiana University - Medical Biochemistry Page MIT - Biology Hypertextbook NLM - Biochemistry NLM - Molecular Cell Biology University of Utah - NetBiochem
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