Chapter 17 Lipids

17.5
Glycerophospholipids

Fatty acid

Fatty acid
Glycerol

Amino
PO4
alcohol

Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings 1
Glycerophospholipids
Glycerophospholipids are
 The most abundant lipids in cell membranes.
 Composed of glycerol, two fatty acids, phosphate
and an amino alcohol.

Fatty acid

Fatty acid
Glycerol

Amino
PO4
alcohol
2
Structures of Lipids

3
Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Publishing as Benjamin Cummings
Glycerophospholipids Are Polar

A glycerophospholipid has
 Two nonpolar fatty acid chains.
 A phosphate group and a polar amino alcohol.
CH3
│+ +
HO−CH2−CH2−N−CH3 HO−CH2−CH2−NH3
│
choline CH3 ethanolamine
+
NH3
│ Amino alcohols
HO−CH2−CH−COO−
serine 4
Structure and Polarity of A
Glycerophospholipid

Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

5
 Lecithin and Cephalin
Lecithin and cephalin are glycerophospholipids
 Abundant in brain and nerve tissues.
 Found in egg yolk, wheat germ, and yeast.

Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc Publishing as Benjamin Cummings 6

Lecithin and Cephalin
 Egg yoke and brain yield lecithin with arachidonic
acid as on of its component fatty acid. Lecithin
formation is an intermediate stage in the metabolism
of fatty acids.
 Cephalin is a thromboplastic substance which
initiates the process of blood coagulation.

7
Learning Check

Identify each as a
A. fatty acid B. triacylglycerol
C. amino alcohol D. glycerophospholipid

1. glyceryl trioleate
2. cephalin
3. choline
4. palmitic acid

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 Solution

Identify each as a
A. fatty acid B. triacylglycerol
C. amino alcohol D. glycerophospholipid

1. glyceryl trioleate B. triacylglycerol

2. cephalin D. glycerophospholipid
3. choline C. amino alcohol
4. palmitic acid A. fatty acid

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Learning Check
Identify the components and type of glycerophospholipid
O
║
CH2−O −C −(CH2)16 −CH3
O
║
CH2−O −C −(CH2)16 −CH3
+
O NH3
║ │
CH2−O −P −O − CH2−CH−COO-
│
O-
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Solution
Identify the components and type of glycerophospholipid
O
║
CH2−O −C −(CH2)16 −CH3
O 2 stearic acids
║
CH2−O −C −(CH2)16 −CH3
+
O NH3
║ │ type = cephalin
CH2−O −P −O − CH2−CH−COO-
│ serine
O-
phosphate amino alcohol
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