14

 Influence the folding and stability of the proteins

 Provide critical information about the targeting of newly synthesized proteins
 Allow specific recognition by other proteins

03. GLYCOLIPIDS
Glycolipids are membrane sphingolipids with oligosaccharides in their hydrophilic head groups.
They are the main components of the glycocalix.

03.1. Glycocalix
The glycocalix is responsible for numerous functions:
 Protection: deadening and protection of the membrane
 Immunity: allows the immune system to recognize and selectively attack foreign organisms
 Cellular communication: forms channels with the outside
 Transplant compatibility: makes possible the recognition of compatible cells to add a tissue
or organ from another living organism
 Cell adhesion: it fixes cells that form part of the tissues
 Fertilization: allows the sperm to recognize and bind to ovules
 Embryonic development: guides embryonic cells to their destinations in the body
 Transport of substances
 Specificity of the membrane
 Cell identity: acting as a membrane marker or receiving signal

03.2. Lectins. The sugar code

Lectins are proteins that bind carbohydrates with high specificity and a moderate or high affinity.
These molecules play a crucial role in the distinction of the different blood groups (AB0).

03.2.1. AB0 Blood group antigens

These blood group substances are a set of antigens (oligosaccharides) that are attached to external
parts of red blood cells (erythrocytes).
This is all related to an enzyme called glycosiltransferase. A human being can have the type A, B
both or any. Those with glycosiltransferase A present the A antigen (N-Acetylgalactosamine,
GalNAc) and those with glycosiltransferase B present the B antigen (galactose, Gal).
Humans can produce antibodies against A and B oligosaccharides. A blood has B antibodies, B
group has A antibodies, AB group has no antibodies and 0 group has A and B antibodies.

Miguel Baños Garcia | ETSIAMN - UPV

 15

CHAPTER 5: LIPIDS
Lipids are conformed mainly by long hydrocarboned chains. They are similar to the anlyphatic
hydrocarbons that compose fossil fuels. However, these hydrocarbons are apolar: in living beings
they need a polar group, so they are somehow attracted to water. This polar group is the
carboxylate group.

01. PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONS

Lipids are energy-storage biomolecules which can be stored easily. Due to its structure, containing
a long hydrocarboned chain (apolar) and a carboxilic group (polar), they present amphypathic
behaviour: they tend to form micelles and membranes.
This amphipathic behaviour is very important when considering the structural functions of lipids.
They are insoluble in water and its main two functions are structural and energetic. Others,
however, are enzimatic cofactors, hormones, vitamins or light-absorption pigments.

02. CLASSIFICATION
Attending to the different functions of lipids, we can distinguish 2 main groups: those with
energetic functions and those with structural functions.

02.1. Energetic lipids: fatty acids

Fatty acids are the simplest lipidic molecules. They are long hydrocarboned (more than 12 carbons)
chains, usually with an even number of carbons. The first carbon is from a carboxylate group.
The most common fatty acids are the following:
# of Carbons Insaturations Traditional naming Bioch.Notation ω group
12 0 Lauric acid (laurate) C12:0 -
14 0 Myristic acid (myristate) C14:0 -
16 0 Palmitic acid (Palmitate) C16:0 -
18 0 Estearic acid (Estearate) C18:0 -
20 0 Arachidic acid (Arachiate) C20:0 -
24 0 Lignoceric acid (Lignocerate) C24:0 -
16 1 Palmitoleic acid (Palmitoleate) C16:1(Δ9) ω-9
18 1 Oleic acid (Oleate) C18:1(Δ9) ω-9
18 2 Linoleic acid (Linoleate) C18:2(Δ9,12) ω-6
18 3 Linolenic acid (Linolenate) C18:3(Δ9,12,15) ω-3

PolyUnsaturated FFAA (PUFAs) are essential for humans: they cannot be produced by our
organism. Linolenic acid can be transformed by the organism into other unsaturated fatty acids.
They are also used to produce some hormones (such as prostaglandines).

BIOCHEMISTRY | Biomolecular Chemistry