LIPIDS PART II
SPHINGOPHOSPHOLIPIDS
Sphingophospholipids – Based on the 18 carbon
Monounsaturated Aminodialcohol Sphingosine (MAS)
 Saponifiable Lipids
CONTAINS:
 One Fatty Acid
 One Phosphate Group Attached to a
Sphingosine Molecule
 Alcohol attached to a Phosphate Group
SAPONIFICATION – Process by which triglycerides are
reacted with Sodium or Potassium Hydroxide (Lye) to
produce Glycerol and a fatty acid salt called SOAP
 If Sodium Hydroxide is used, it produces HARD
SOAP
Sphingomyelins – Sphingophospholipids in which the
alcohol esterified to phosphate group is CHOLINE
 Found in all cell membranes
 Important structural components of the Myelin
Sheath of Neurons
Sphingoglycolipids – Contain both a fatty acid and a
carbohydrate
Cerebrosides – Simple Sphingoglycolipids
 Contains a SINGLE MONOSACCHARIDE UNIT
 Either Glucose or Galactose
 Occur primarily in Brain (7% of dry mass)
GANGLIOSIDES
Gangliosides – Complex sphingoglycolipids
 Contain a branched chain up to SEVEN
MONOSACCHARIDE RESIDUES
 Occur in the Gray Matter of the Brain as well as
the Myelin Sheath
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol – Third major type of membrane lipid
 Lipids – Fused Rings
 Cholesterol – C27 Steroid Molecule
 Important in human cell membranes, nerve
tissue and brain tissue
 Important in Chemical Synthesis - Hormones,
vitamins essential for life
Steroid – Is a lipid whose structure is based on fused
ring system of THREE 6 CARBON RINGS and ONE 5
CARBON RING
CHOLESTEROL IN FOOD
Liver – Synthesizes Cholesterol
Cholesterol – 1 gram everyday synthesized per day
 Not necessary to consume in the form of diet
Cholesterol Synthesis – Decrease if ingested
Cardiovascular Disease – Happens when Cholesterol
Reduction is not sufficient
Animal Food – Lost of Cholesterol
Plant Food – No Cholesterol
GMRL | 10-18-20
CELLS THE MEMBRANE PROTEINS AND SOME LIPIDS ARE
FURTHER REACTED WITH CARBOHYDRATE MOLECULES
**CELLS ARE SURROUNDED BY PLASMA
MEMBRANES** Act as markers – Process by which different cell
recognize each other
Plasma Membranes - Separates aqueous interior of a
cell from the aqueous environment surrounding the cell

 Up to 80% is lipid material

 Lipid Bilayers made up of PHOSPHOLIPIDS

Bilayer – Non-Polar Tails of Phospholipids in the middle

 Polar heads are on the surface

 6-9 billionths of a meter thick or 6-9 nanometer

thick

 Liquid like structure due to unsaturation of

Lipids Tails PASSIVE TRANSPORT

CHOLESTEROL Transport Across Cell Membranes – To maintain

cellular processes, various molecules are transported
**CHOLESTEROL MOLECUES ARE ALSO COMPONENTS across the cell membranes
OF PLASMA MEMBRANE**
THREE TYPES OF TRANSPORT
Cholesterol – Help regulate membrane fluidity
 Passive Transport
 The fused ring system does not allow rotation of
Fatty Acid Tails in the vicinity  Facilitated Transport

 Fits between fatty acid chains of the lipid bilayer
– Makes it rigid
 Acts as a MEMBRANE PLASTICIZER
 Active Transport
Passive Transport – A substance moves across a cell
membrane by Diffusion from a region of higher
concentration to a region of lower concentration

FEW TYPES OF MOLECULES THAT CAN CROSS

MEMBRANES BY PASSIVE TRANSPORT

 O2

 N2

 H 2O

 Urea

 Ethanol

PROTEINS
**PLASMA MEMBRANES ALSO CONTAIN PROTEIN**

Proteins – Responsible for moving substances such as

Nutrients and Electrolytes across the membrane

 Receptors for Hormones and Neurotransmitters

GMRL | 10-18-20
FACILITATED TRANSPORT
Facilitated Transport – A substance moves across a cell
membrane with the aid of a membrane protein from a
region of higher concentration to a region of lower
concentration
 The specific protein carriers or transporters are
involved in the process
ACTIVE TRANSPORT
Active Transport – Substance moves across a cell
membrane, with the aid of membrane proteins, against
a concentration gradient with the expenditure of cellular
energy
Pumps – Proteins involved in active transport
 The needed energy for this active transport is
from ADENOSINE TRIPHOSPHATE
EMULSIFICATION LIPIDS: BILE ACIDS
Emulsifier - Substance that can disperse and stabilize
water-insoluble substances as colloidal particles in an
aqueous solution
Bile Acids - Cholesterol derivatives that functions as
emulsifying agents
 Make dietary lipids soluble in aqueous
environment of the digestive tract
 1/3 of cholesterol produced by liver is converted
into Bile Acids
 Action similar to soap in washing
 Are Tri- or Dihydroxy cholesterol derivatives
 The carbon 17 side chain of cholesterol has been
oxidized to a carboxylic acid
 The oxidized acid side chain is bonded to an
amino acid (either Glycine or Taurine) through
an Amide Linkage
Bile - Fluid containing emulsifying agents (Bile Acids)
 Secreted by the liver
 Stored in the gallbladder
 Released into the small intestine during
digestion
HORMONES
Hormone - Biochemical substance produced by a
ductless gland that has a messenger function
 Serve as a means of communication between
various tissues
 Some are lipids
LIPIDS THAT ACT AS CHEMICAL MESSENGERS
 Eicosanoids - Derivatives of Arachidonic Acid
 Steroid Hormones - Derivatives of Cholesterol
TWO MAJOR CLASSES OF STEROID HORMONES
 Sex Hormones - Control Reproduction and
Secondary Sex Characteristics
 Adrenocorticoid Hormones - Control numerous
biochemical processes in the body
SEX HORMONES
THREE MAJOR GROUPS
 Estrogens - Female Sex Hormones
 Androgens – Male Sex Hormones
 Progestins – Pregnancy Hormones
ADRENOCORTICOID HORMONES
Adrenocorticoid Hormones – Produced by the Adrenal
Glands
Adrenal Glands – Small organs located on top of each
kidney
** 28 DIFFERENT HORMONES HAVE BEEN ISOLATED
FROM THE ADRENAL CORTEX**
TWO TYPES OF ADRENOCORTICOID HORMONES
Mineralcorticoids - Control the balance of Na and K ions
in cells
Glucocorticoids - Control Glucose Metabolism and
Counteract Inflammation
GMRL | 10-18-20
EICOSANOIDS THROMBOXANES

Eicosanoids – Arachidonic Acid Derivatives Thromboxanes - C20-fatty-acid derivative containing a

 Have profound Psychological Effects at
extremely low concentrations
 Eicosanoids are hormone-like molecules
 Exert their effects in the tissues where they are
synthesized
Cyclic Ether Ring and Oxygen-Containing Functional
groups
 Promote platelet aggregation
LEUKOTRIENES
Leukotrienes - C20-fatty-acid derivative containing
Three Conjugated Double Bonds and Hydroxyl Groups

 Eicosanoids usually have a very short “life.”  Promote inflammatory and hypersensitivity
(allergy) responses
PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF EICOSANOIDS
BIOLOGICAL WAXES
 Inflammatory Response
Biological Wax – A monoester of a long-chain fatty acid
 Production of Pain and Fever and a long-chain alcohol

FATTY ACIDS IN BIOLOGICAL WAXES

 Regulation of Blood Pressure
 Generally are saturated fatty acids
 Induction of Blood Clotting
 Contain 14 to 36 carbon atoms
 Control of Reproductive Functions (Induction of
Labor) ALCOHOLS FOUND IN BIOLOGICAL WAXES

 May be saturated or unsaturated

 Regulation of sleep/wake cycle
 May contain 16 to 30 carbon atoms
THREE PRINCIPLE TYPES
PROSTAGLANDINS

Prostaglandins - C20-fatty-acid derivative containing

Cyclopentane Ring and Oxygen-Containing functional
groups

 Involved in raising body temperatures

PROPERTIES OF BIOLOGICAL WAXES
 Inhibiting the secretion of gastric juices
 Water Insoluble
 Increasing the secretion of a protective mucus
layer into the stomach  Water Repellent

 Relaxing and contracting smooth muscle Why? - Because of long nonpolar hydrocarbon chains

 Directing water and electrolyte balance

** HUMANS AND ANIMALS SECRETE BIOLOGICAL
 Intensifying pain WAXES FROM SKIN GLANDS **

 Enhancing inflammation responses

GMRL | 10-18-20
FUNCTION OF BIOLOGICAL WAXES

 Protect hair and skin – Keeps it pliable and well

lubricated

 Impart water repellency to animal fur

 Birds keep their feathers water repellent and

help minimize loss of body heat

 Plants coat their leaves with a thin layer of

biological waxes to prevent excessive
evaporation of water and to protect against
parasite attack

GMRL | 10-19-20