Lipids Continued

Dr. Saleem A. Bokhari

COMSATS University,
Islamabad
 Lipids
Water insoluble heterogeneous class of biomolecules, can be
solubilized in organic solvents like CCl4, chloroform, ether etc.
1.Hydrolysable (complex: e.g. Triglycerides)
2.and non-hydrolysable (simple: e.g. Sterols)

Hydrolysable can be further:

(1.1) simple or (1.2) conjugated lipids
Sponification: Sponification value:
“mg of KOH required to sponify 1 gm of the oil/fat”
Emulsification
Rancidity: (Oxidation into free FAs, aldhydes and ketones
resulting in bad odor. Can be hydrolytic, oxidative, microbial
Three main functions:
– Energy storage
– Cell membrane constituents
– Play important roles in cell signaling, both as steroid hormones
(e.g., estrogen and testosterone) and as messenger molecules
Classification of Lipids
 1.2.1 Phospholipids
 Phospholipids, the principal components of cell
membranes, consist of two fatty acids joined to
a polar head group.
 In the glycerol phospholipids, the two fatty acids
are bound to carbon atoms in glycerol, as in
triacyl glycerides.
 The third carbon of glycerol, however, is bound
to a phosphate group, which is in turn frequently
attached to another small polar molecule, such
as choline, serine, inositol, or ethanolamine.
1.2.1.1 Phospholipids/Phosphoglycerides/
Glycerophospholipids
Cephalins Lecithins
1.2.1.1.3
Phosphatidylserine

And

1.2.1.1.4
Phosphatidylinositol
 1.2.1.1b) Plasmalogens:
- a modified class of phosphoglycerides
 (1.2.1.2) Sphingophospholipids
(Nonglycerol phospholipid)
 
Sphingomyelin- a derivative of sphingosine, is the only
nonglycerol phospholipid in cell membranes, contains two
hydrocarbon chains linked to a polar head group formed
from serine rather than from glycerol.
Although different chemically they resemble considerably
with cephalins and lecithins.
All phospholipids have hydrophobic tails, consisting of the
two hydrocarbon chains, and hydrophilic head groups,
amphipathic molecules, partly water-soluble and partly
water-insoluble.
This property of phospholipids is the basis for the
formation of biological membranes.
Sphingomyelin
Ceramides

A Sphingolipid
 (1.2.2) Glycolipids:
1.2.2.1) Sphingoglycolipids or
Cerebrosides
 Glycolipids consist of
two hydrocarbon
chains linked to polar
head groups that
contain carbohydrates
but no phosphate
group
 Glucocerebroside:
a simplest ceramide
 1.2.2.2) Gangliosides:
Ceramides oligosaccharides which contain at least one
sialic acid or its derivative is present. Most complex
sphingolipid

GalNAc Gal Glc Ceramide

Gal NAN
 Sialic Acid:
N-acetylneuraminic acid (NAN)
 Steroid hormones 
(Estrogens and Testosterone)

 lipids function as signaling molecules, both

within- (intracellular) and between cells-
(intercellular) messengers — (hormones)

 Steroids are derived from sterols

Cell Membrane – Lipid bilayer
Good Luck!