The Cell & Molecules of Life (9744) Lipids 2018

Lipids
 Can be classified into: triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids (cholesterol to be covered under cell membranes) and waxes (not in syllabus).

Describe the formation and breakage of an ester bond.

 To form triglycerides  Three non-polar, hydrophobic, hydrocarbon chains are joined to a glycerol backbone via the formation of 3 ester
linkages. An ester linkage is formed between a hydroxyl group (-OH) and a carboxyl group (-COOH) via a condensation reaction. One water
molecule is removed for each fatty acid joined to the glycerol.

Glycerol 3 Fatty Acids Triglyceride Water

Describe the structures and properties of glycerol & fatty acids

Molecule Structure Properties

Glycerol has 3 polar, hydrophilic hydroxyl groups which  Soluble in water
are able to form hydrogen bonds with water

Fatty acids when ionized in water, has charged COO- group
which can interact with water
(Note: for charged groups, the term used is
‘interact with water’, not ‘form hydrogen bond with
water’)
 Soluble in water
(if the fatty acid chains are short.)
However, as the length of the hydrocarbon tail of a fatty acid increases,
solubility decreases due to non-polar hydrophobic nature of the hydrocarbon
chains

Describe the structures and properties of a triglyceride and a phospholipid & explain how these are related to their roles in living organisms

Triglycerides
 Each triglyceride consists of
1. 3 long non-polar, hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains
2. joined to a glycerol backbone via ester linkages

 The long non-polar, hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains of the triglyceride

a) cannot form hydrogen bonds with water and
 hence the triglyceride is insoluble in water does not affect the water potential of the cell it is in
b) have a high proportion of C-H bonds from which energy in the form of ATP and metabolic water can be released during oxidation

This makes triglycerides a suitable energy store

 Other roles lipids:

1. Lipids are found beneath the layer of skin. They are poor conductors of heat and are able to provide thermal insulation to mammals
especially those in cooler climates.
2. Lipids are less dense than water and hence improve buoyancy in mammals, especially marine mammals like the whale.
3. Lipids form a protective layer around delicate internal organs of mammals. Hence they act as shock absorbers and protect organs from
mechanical damage.
4. Lipids can function as a reservoir for storage of fat soluble vitamins e.g vitamins A, D and K.
5. Lipids are insoluble in water hence osmotically inactive or without affecting water potential of mammalian cells.

 Triglycerides release twice as much energy on oxidation compared with an equivalent mass of carbohydrates as triglycerides contain proportionally
more C-H bonds and less O atoms compared to an equivalent mass of carbohydrates from which energy in the form of ATP can be released
during oxidation.

 In fact, lipids also produce more metabolic water per unit mass when compared with an equivalent mass of carbohydrates. This is especially
useful for desert animals which store fat and have limited access to water.

Prepared by: Mrs Selvamani Nair & Mrs Wong SH Raffles Institution (Yr 5-6) 1
The Cell & Molecules of Life (9744) Lipids 2018

Phospholipids
 Each phospholipid consists of
1. 2 long non-polar, hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails
2. joined to a to a glycerol backbone via ester linkages
3. with the third hydroxyl group of the glycerol backbone joined to a negatively charged (not polar!) phosphate group

 Major component of membranes of cells and organelles as

1. the non-polar hydrophobic hydrocarbon tails face inwards, away from the water and
2. the hydrophilic negatively charged phosphate group face outwards and interact with the aqueous environment
 hence giving rise to a phospholipid bilayer with a hydrophobic core that forms a selectively permeable membrane which
(i) regulates movement of substances by acting as a barrier to and ions, polar and large molecules
(ii) acting as a boundary between the intracellular & extracellular aqueous environment and
(iii) allows compartmentalization within a cell

(Note:
1. Since the phospholipid has both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, it is
referred to as being amphipathic
2. Unsaturated hydrocarbon chains with kinks prevent close packing of
phospholipids resulting in greater fluidity of the membrane and fewer
hydrophobic interactions between the phospholipids hence and allowing larger
transient pores to form in the bilayer
3. Additional small molecules, usually charged or polar, can be linked to the
phosphate group to form a variety of phospholipids

Carry out the emulsion test for fats

Emulsion Test If the test sample is a solution: Presence of lipids indicated by:
for Lipids 1. Add 2 cm3 of ethanol to two drops of test sample in a test tube. Mix well and allow  A homogeneous (or clear) solution is
to stand for 2 minutes. formed with ethanol and an emulsion
2. Decant the ethanol into another test tube containing 2 cm 3 of water. was formed when water was added.
If the test sample is a solid: If lipids are absent, a clear solution
1. Add 2 cm3 of ethanol to ground test sample in a test tube. remains.
2. Mix well to dissolve any lipids if it is present and allow it to stand for 2 minutes.
3. Decant the ethanol into another test tube containing 2 cm 3 of water.

Prepared by: Mrs Selvamani Nair & Mrs Wong SH Raffles Institution (Yr 5-6) 2