Lipids

energy storage

AP Biology
 Lipids
Lipids are composed of C, H, O
long hydrocarbon chain
4 types of lipids
fats fat
phospholipids
steroids
waxes

AP Biology
 1. Triglycerides
Fat molecules
 3 fatty acids chains linked to glycerol

AP Biology
 Fats store energy
Long HC chain
Hydrophobic
“water – fearing” = insoluble in water
Function:
energy storage
 very rich
 2x carbohydrates
cushion organs
insulates body

AP Biology
 Saturated fats
All C bonded to H
No C=C double bonds
long, straight chain
most animal fats
solid at room temp.
 contributes to
cardiovascular disease
(atherosclerosis)
= plaque deposits

AP Biology
 Unsaturated fats
At least one C=C double bond in
the fatty acids
plant & fish fats
vegetable oils
liquid at room temperature
 the kinks made by double
bonded C prevent the
molecules from packing
tightly together

mono-unsaturated?
poly-unsaturated?
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 Saturated vs. unsaturated
saturated unsaturated

AP Biology 
 2. Phospholipids
Structure:
glycerol + 2 fatty acids chains + phosphate head
 PO4 negatively charged

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 Phospholipids
Hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
fatty acid tails = hydrophobic
PO4 = hydrophilic head
dual “personality”

It likes water
& also pushes
it away!

interaction with H2O

is complex & very
important!
AP Biology
 Phospholipids in water
Hydrophilic heads attracted to H2O
Hydrophobic tails “hide” from H2O
can self-assemble into “bubbles”
can also form a phospholipid bilayer
 Found in animal cells (cell membrane)

bilayer

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 Steroids
ex: cholesterol, sex hormones
4 fused C rings
different steroids created by attaching different
functional groups to rings

cholesterol

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 Cholesterol
Important cell component
animal cell membranes
precursor of all other steroids
 including vertebrate sex hormones
high levels in blood may contribute to cardiovascular
disease

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 Cholesterol
Important component of cell membrane

helps keep
cell membranes
fluid & flexible

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 From Cholesterol  Sex Hormones
What a big difference a few atoms can make!

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 What is the function of a
triglyceride?
1. Stores and transfers 95%
genetic information
2. Stores energy
3. Control the rate of
reactions
4. Help to fight disease

5%
0% 0%

1 2 3 4
AP Biology
 Fats that have at least one double
bond between Carbon atoms are
called
88%
1. Unsaturated
2. Saturated
3. Glycerol
4. Fatty Acids

6% 6%
0%

1 2 3 4
AP Biology
 What is another name for a fat
molecule?
1. phospholipid 75%
2. Cholesterol
3. Steroid
4. triglyceride

15%
10%
0%

1 2 3 4
AP Biology
 Phospholipids have a
1. hydrophobic head
95%
and hydrophilic tail
2. hydrophilic head
and hydrophobic tail

5%

1 2
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 Which of the following is an
example of a steroid
1. Fatty acids 100%

2. Sex Hormones
3. Phospholipids
4. Olive Oil

0% 0% 0%

1 2 3 4
AP Biology