Lipids

• The lipids are a large and heterogeneous group of substances of biological

origin that are easily dissolved in organic solvents such as methanol, acetone,
chloroform, and benzene. By contrast, they are either insoluble or only poorly
soluble in water. Their low water solubility is due to a lack of polarizing.

Biological roles
• 1. Fuel. Lipids are an important source of energy in the diet.
• 2. Nutrients. Amphipathic lipids are used by cells to build membranes. Typical
membrane lipids include phospholipids, glycolipids, and cholesterol.
• 3. Insulation. Lipids are excellent insulators.In the higher animals, neutral fats
are found in the tissue and around various organs, where they serve as
mechanical and thermal insulators.
• 4. Special tasks. Some lipids have adopted special roles in the body. Steroids,
eicosanoids, and some metabolites of phospholipids have signaling functions.
• They serve as hormones.
• The lipids also produce cofactors for enzymatic reactions e. g., vitamin K.
• The carotenoid retinal, a light-sensitive lipid, is of central importance in the
process of vision

1
2
2-Unsaturated Fatty acid

3
 Lipids
Classification

Simple Complex Derived

Lipids Lipids Lipids

Simple Lipids
1- Fats are esters of the trivalent alcohol glycerol with three fatty
acids.(triacylglycerol; one glycerol + three acyl residues).
2- Waxes:(one fatty alcohol + one acyl residue);

4
 Simple
Lipids

Fats Waxes

-Waxes

5
2- Complex Lipids
• Complex Lipids:
Esters of Fatty acids containing groups in addition to al cohol and fatty acids:-
Complex Lipids

Phospholipids Glycolipides Lipoproteins Sphingolipids

• The phospholipids include the phosphatidic acids (one glycerol + two acyl
residues + one phosphate)
• phosphatides (one glycerol+ two acyl residues + one phosphate + one amino
alcohol).