Name: Bunag, Patricia Bianca S.

Course: LSPS01

Lipids and Membranes

I. Define the following terms

Lipids

✓ lipid, any of a diverse group of organic compounds including fats, oils, hormones, and certain
components of membranes that are grouped together because they do not interact appreciably
with water. Lipids have several roles in the body, these include acting as chemical messengers,
storage and provision of energy and so forth.

Saturated

✓ A saturated fat is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains have all single bonds. The simplest
fatty acids are unbranched, linear chains of CH2 groups linked by carbon-carbon single bonds
with one terminal carboxylic acid group. The term saturated indicates that the maximum possible
number of hydrogen atoms are bonded to each carbon in the molecule. saturated fat is a type of
dietary fat. It is one of the unhealthy fats, along with trans-fat.

Unsaturated

✓ Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more carbon-carbon double bonds. The term unsaturated
indicates that fewer than the maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms are bonded to each
carbon in the molecule. The number of double bonds is indicated by the generic name—
monounsaturated for molecules with one double bond or polyunsaturated for molecules with two
or more double bonds.

Monounsaturated

✓ A sub type of unsaturated fat is monounsaturated. The number of double bonds is indicated by the
generic name—monounsaturated for molecules with one double bond

Polyunsaturated

✓ polyunsaturated are unsaturated fat molecules with two or more double bonds.

Fatty acids

✓ Fatty acids are the building blocks of the fat in our bodies and in the food we eat. During
digestion, the body breaks down fats into fatty acids, which can then be absorbed into the blood.
 Fatty acid molecules are usually joined together in groups of three, forming a molecule called a
triglyceride. a fatty acid is a carboxylic acid with an aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or
unsaturated. Most naturally occurring fatty acids have an unbranched chain of an even number of
carbon atoms, from 4 to 28.

Triacylglycerols

✓ Triglycerides (TGs, also called neutral fats, triacylglycerols, or triacylglycerides) are a common,
simple type of lipid consisting of three long-chain fatty acids esterified to glycerol with a fatty
acid linked to each of the three OH groups by an ester bond. triacylglycerols ('triglycerides'),
which are chemically inert, highly hydrophobic and have a high energy density.

Sphingolipids

✓ Sphingolipids are a class of lipids containing a backbone of sphingoid bases, a set of aliphatic
amino alcohols that includes sphingosine. A sphingolipid is a type of lipid comprised of a
sphingoid base (e.g. sphingosine and ceramides) and sugar residue(s). The two are joined together
by a glycosidic bond. Rather than a glycerol, the lipid has sphingoid base, especially sphingosine.
Sphingolipids are enriched in the Central Nervous System (CNS) and display multiple biological
functions. They participate in tissue development, cell recognition and adhesion, and act as
receptors for toxins.

Phosphoacylglycerols

✓ Phosphoacylglycerols are triesters of glycerol in which two -OH groups are esterified with fatty
acids and one -OH group is esterified with phosphoric acid, which in turn is esterified to an
alcohol. Phosphoacylglycerols have a "head and two tails" structure and are major components of
cell membranes.

Glycolipids

✓ Glycolipids are lipids with a carbohydrate attached by a glycosidic (covalent) bond. Their role is
to maintain the stability of the cell membrane and to facilitate cellular recognition, which is
crucial to the immune response and in the connections that allow cells to connect to one another
to form tissues.

Steroids

✓ Steroids are a man-made version of chemicals, known as hormones, that are made naturally in the
human body. Steroids are designed to act like these hormones to reduce inflammation. They're
 also known as corticosteroids, and are different to anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders and
athletes. Steroid hormones are a group of hormones derived from cholesterol, they are non-polar3
molecules produced from the precursor cholesterol that act as chemical messengers in the body.

Cholesterol

✓ Cholesterol is a structural component of cell membranes and serves as a building block for
synthesizing various steroid hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids. Cholesterol is a 27 carbon
compound with a unique structure with a hydrocarbon tail, a central sterol nucleus made of four
hydrocarbon rings, and a hydroxyl group. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that's found in
all the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and
substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs.

Glycerolipids

✓ Glycerolipids are a large group of biological molecules necessary for membrane formation,
caloric storage, and crucial intracellular signaling processes. Glycerolipids are a class of lipids
containing glycerol to which long-chain hydrocarbons are attached to the hydroxyl groups via
carboxylic acid ester linkages.

Phospholipid Bilayer

II. Enumerate five (5) examples of Saturated Fatty Acids and follow the steps below:
1. On a piece of paper, draw the structure for each example
2. Take a picture of your work, and
3. Attach a clear picture in this document.

Lauric Acid – C12H24O2

Myristic Acid – C14H28O2

Palmitic Acid – C16H32O2

Stearic Acid – C18H36O2

Behenic Acid – C22H44O2

III. Enumerate five (5) examples of Unsaturated Fatty Acids and follow the steps below:
1. On a piece of paper, draw the structure for each example
2. Take a picture of your work, and
3. Attach a clear picture in this document.

Palmitoleic Acid – C16H30O2

Oleic Acid – C18H34O2

Gadoleic Acid – C20H38O2

Erucic Acid – C22H42O2

Nervonic Acid - C24H46O2

IV. List down five (5) functions of lipids (Briefly discuss each)

Lipids are now understood to play a far larger role in the body than previously thought. It main
functions are for:

1. As a type of chemical messenger Chemical messengers are used by all multicellular animals to
carry information between organelles and to other cells. Lipids are ideal candidates for signaling
since they are tiny molecules that are insoluble in water. The signaling molecules then bind to
receptors on the cell surface, causing a change in the cell that results in an action. The signaling
lipids can infiltrate membranes and transfer signals to other cells in their esterified state. These
may bind to specific proteins and remain inactive until they reach the action site and come into
contact with the relevant receptor.

2. For storage of energy. Storage lipids are triacylglycerols, which are used for energy storage and
provision. These are made up of three fatty acids and a glycerol and are inert. During fasting,
non-esterified fatty acids, also known as free (unesterified) fatty acids, are released from
triacylglycerols to provide a source of energy and to form structural components for cells. Dietary
fatty acids with short and medium chain lengths are not esterified and are oxidized rapidly in
tissues as a source of "fuel." Longer chain fatty acids are converted to triacylglycerols or
structural lipids first.

3. To keep the temperature stable. Insulation and protection from the cold are also provided by
layers of subcutaneous fat beneath the skin. Brown fat, not white fat, is responsible for the
majority of body temperature regulation. Brown fat is more concentrated in babies.

4. Assist in the production of cholesterol. Cholesterol is typically found in cell membranes. It can
also be found in free form in the blood as plasma lipoproteins. Lipoproteins are complex lipid-
protein complexes that allow lipids to travel in a watery or aqueous solution and transport them
throughout the body. Based on relative densities, chylomicrons (CM), very low density
lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), and high density lipoproteins (HDL) are
the four main groups. Cholesterol maintains membrane fluidity by interacting with complex lipid
components, particularly phospholipids like phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin. Bile acids,
vitamin D, and steroidal hormones are all made up of cholesterol.
 5. The creation of prostaglandins and their involvement in inflammation, as well as "fat-soluble"
vitamins. The essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic acids are precursors of a variety of
eicosanoids, including hydroxyeicosatetraenes, prostanoids (prostaglandins, thromboxanes, and
prostacyclins), leukotrienes (and lipoxins), and resolvins, among others. Alternatively. Vitamins
A, D, E, and K are "fat-soluble" vitamins that serve a variety of roles. Fatty acids are transported
and metabolized by acyl-carnitines in and out of mitochondria. Polyprenols and phosphorylated
derivatives of polyprenols aid in molecular transport through membranes. Glycerophospholipids
containing four acyl chains and three glycerol groups are known as cardiolipins. They cause
oxidative phosphorylation enzymes to be activated.

V. Briefly discuss one ailment or disease related to Lipids and Fatty Acids.

Metabolic Syndrome

Sometimes called “Syndrome X,” “dyslipidemia syndrome,” or “insulin resistance,” metabolic

syndrome occurs when your blood contains high levels of triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol levels, and
high insulin levels. Other features of metabolic syndrome include high blood pressure (hypertension) and
excess fat around the waist. Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions that occur together, increasing
your risk of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. These conditions include increased blood pressure,
high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.
Having just one of these conditions doesn't mean you have metabolic syndrome. But it does mean you
have a greater risk of serious disease. And if you develop more of these conditions, your risk of
complications, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, rises even higher.

Genetic tests are not available for all lipid disorders. Your doctor may rely on your stated family
history, along with your own medical history, to piece together your specific lipid puzzle. For the
majority of people with a lipid disorder, simple lifestyle changes coupled with medication can reduce
their risk of heart disease and allow them to live a healthy life.

Causes

Metabolic syndrome is closely linked to overweight or obesity and inactivity. It's also linked to a
condition called insulin resistance. Normally, your digestive system breaks down the foods you eat into
sugar. Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that helps sugar enter your cells to be used as fuel. In
people with insulin resistance, cells don't respond normally to insulin and glucose can't enter the cells as
easily. As a result, your blood sugar levels rise even as your body churns out more and more insulin to try
to lower your blood sugar.

Complications

Having metabolic syndrome can increase your risk of developing:

Type 2 diabetes. If you don't make lifestyle changes to control your excess weight, you may
develop insulin resistance, which can cause your blood sugar levels to rise. Eventually, insulin resistance
can lead to type 2 diabetes.

Heart and blood vessel disease. High cholesterol and high blood pressure can contribute to the
buildup of plaques in your arteries. These plaques can narrow and harden your arteries, which can lead to
a heart attack or stroke.