FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS Dr.

Nadia Iqbal
BIOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE OF LIPIDS
Energy storage
Insulators
Mechanical protection
ENERGY STORAGE
LIPIDS OR GLUCOSE FOR ENERGY?
H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2
H3C C C C C C C C C O
C C C C C C C C C
H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 OH

HC O
HO CH More reduced state (more H bound to C)
HC OH  More potential for oxidation
HO CH
HO CH Less reduced state (more O bound to C)
CH2OH  Less potential for oxidation
THERMAL INSULATION
MECHANICAL PROTECTION
Platelet-activating
factor (PAF) is a
potent mediator
that occurs at very
low concentrations
in cells and tissues
Sleep induction
: Isoprene unit.
 VITAMIN E, K, AND OTHER LIPID
QUINONES ARE ANTIOXIDANTS
• Some other biologically
active isoprenoid
compounds or
derivatives. Units
derived from isoprene are
set off by dashed red
lines. In most mammalian
tissues, ubiquinone (also
called coenzyme Q) has 10
isoprene units. Dolichols
of animals have 17 to 21
isoprene units (85 to 105
carbon atoms), bacterial
dolichols have 11, and
those of plants and fungi
have 14 to 24
LIPIDS CAN PROVIDE PIGMENT;
GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS DETERMINE BLOOD GROUPS
• Glycosphingolipids as
determinants of blood
groups. The human blood
groups (O, A, B) are
determined in part by the
oligosaccharide head groups
of these glycosphingolipids.

GalNAc

Gal
STRUCTURAL SUPPORT
FUNCTION AS ANTIBACTERIAL
PRECURSOR
 VITAMIN A (RETINOL)
Vitamin A1 and its precursor and • Involved in visual pigment
derivatives. (a) β-Carotene is the • Precursor for other hormones involved in
precursor of vitamin A1. Isoprene signaling
structural units are set off by dashed
red lines. Cleavage of β-carotene yields
two molecules of vitamin A1 (retinol) (b).
Oxidation at C-15 converts retinol to the
aldehyde, retinal (c), and further
oxidation produces retinoic acid (d), a
hormone that regulates gene expression.
Retinal combines with the protein opsin
to form rhodopsin (not shown), a visual
pigment widespread in nature. In the
dark, retinal of rhodopsin is in the 11-cis
form (c). When a rhodopsin molecule is
excited by visible light, the 11-cis-retinal
undergoes a series of photochemical
reactions that convert it to all trans-
retinal (e), forcing a change in the shape
of the entire rhodopsin molecule. This
transformation in the rod cell of the
vertebrate retina sends an electrical
signal to the brain that is the basis of
visual transduction.
 VITAMIN D REGULATES CALCIUM UPTAKE

Vitamin D3 production and metabolism. (a) Cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) is produced in

the skin by UV irradiation of 7-dehydrocholesterol, which breaks the bond shaded
light red. In the liver, a hydroxyl group is added at C-25; in the kidney, a second
hydroxylation at C-1 produces the active hormone, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. This
hormone regulates the metabolism of Ca2+ in kidney, intestine, and bone.
 STEROID HORMONES
• Steroids derived from
cholesterol. Testosterone, the
male sex hormone, is
produced in the testes.
Estradiol, one of the female
sex hormones, is produced in
the ovaries and placenta.
Cortisol and aldosterone are
hormones synthesized in the
cortex of the adrenal gland;
they regulate glucose
metabolism and salt
excretion, respectively.
Prednisone and prednisolone
are synthetic steroids used as
antiinflammatory agents.
Brassinolide is a growth
regulator found in vascular
plants.
 ARACHIDONIC ACID DERIVATIVES
AS SIGNALING LIPIDS
• Enzymatic oxidation of arachidonic acid
yields
• Prostaglandins (inflammation and fever)
• Thromboxanes (formation of blood clots)
• Leukotrienes (smooth muscle contraction in
lungs)
 While plant oils such as cotton, coconut,
palm, castor beans, soy, and sunflowers are
also natural sources of stearic acid,

Soap making. deodorants foundation

creams, hand lotions, hair straightening
products, and shaving creams.
BIODIESEL IS A CLEAN-BURNING FUEL PRODUCED FROM PLANT LIPIDS SUCH
AS SOYBEAN OIL AND WILL BE A GOOD SOURCE OF FEUL IN NEAR FUTURE.

Lubricants
palm, sunflower, soybean oils are used to
make industrial bio-lubricants. engine
oil, grease and metalworking fluids.
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS

LIPIDS
REFERENCES
Harpers Illustrated Biochemistry. (2012). 29th Ed. By Robert Murray, David Bender,
Kathleen M. Botham, Peter J. Kennelly, Victor Rodwell, P. Anthony Weil. McGraw-Hill
Medical.
Biochemistry. 7th Ed. By Jeremy M. Berg, John L. Tymoczko and Lubert Stryer.
Publisher: Palgrave MacMillan; 7th revised international ed edition (April 1, 2011).
Fundamentals of Biochemistry (2008) 3rd Ed. by D. J. Voet, G.J. Voet and C. W. Pratt.
J. Wiley & Sons Inc.
Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry. (2012) 6th Ed. By David L. Nelson , Michael M.
Cox . W.H. Freeman; 6th Edition (November 21, 2012).