Lipids

Introduction and Classification

 Lipids
• Introductions:
• Lipids (lipos G = fat) are a heterogeneous group containing
a collection of diverse water-insoluble (hydrophobic)
organic molecules with varying chemical composition.
• Grouped together on the basis of their solubility in
nonpolar solvents (ether, chloroform, benzene)
• Extracted from tissues by nonpolar solvents
• Word lipid was first used by a German biochemist Bloor
in 1943.
 Lipids
• Includes fats, oils, waxes, steroids, terpenoids
• Mostly small and not considered as
macromolecules or polymer.
• Because of their insolubility in aqueous
solutions, body lipids are generally found
compartmentalized
• They form structures such as vesicles,
liposomes, membranes in aqueous solution.
 Lipids
• In plasma, it is transported in association with
protein, as in lipoprotein particles or on albumin.
• The biological functions of the lipids are as
diverse as their chemistry.
• Fats and oils are the principal stored forms of
energy in many organisms.
• Phospholipids and sterols are major structural
elements of biological membranes.
 Lipids
• Membranes are hydrophobic barrier which
partitioned the aqueous contents of cells and
subcellular structures.
• Source of fat soluble vitamins (A, D, K, E) as
enzymes cofactors, electron carriers, light
absorbing pigments, hormones, and intracellular
messengers.
• Lipids protect the internal organs and serve as
insulating materials.
 Lipids
• Classification of lipids:
• Bloor (1943) classified lipids based on their
chemical composition.
• The classification includes three groups;
simple lipids, compound lipids and derived
lipids.
A. Simple (or homolipids) lipids: These are
ester of fatty acids with various alcohols.
 Lipids
• Mainly of two types
a. Fats and oils (triacylglycerides):
• These are the ester of fatty acids with
trihydoxy alcohols e.g., glycerol.
• A fat is solid at ordinary temperature whereas
an oil is liquid
b. Waxes: ester of long chain fatty acids with
high molecular weight monohydroxy alcohols
 Lipids
• Alcohols may be aliphatic or alicyclic.
• Used in the preparation of cosmetics,
lubricants, ointments, candles.
B. Compound or Complex lipids or heterolipids:
• Ester of alcohol with fatty acids with
additional groups e.g., phosphates, nitrogenous
base, carbohydrates, proteins.
• Divided as follows
 Lipids
a. Phospholipids: In addition to fatty acids and
alcohols, it contains phosphoric acids,
nitrogenous bases and other substituents.
I. Glycerophospholipids: glycerol as an alcohol
e.g., lecithin, cephalin.
II. Sphinophospholipids: sphingosine is the
alcohol in these phospholipids e.g.,
sphingomyelin.
 Lipids
b. Glycolipids: contain fatty acids,
carbohydrates, nitrogenous bases but no
phosphoric acid and glycerol.
• The alcohol is sphingosine so they are also
called glycosphingolipids e.g., cerebrosides,
gangliosides
c. Lipoproteins: macromolecular complexes of
lipids with proteins.
 Lipids
d. Other complex lipids: Sulfolipids,
aminolipids and lipopolysaccharides are
included.
C. Derived lipids:
• These are the substances derived from simple
and complex lipids by hydrolysis.
• Include fatty acids, alcohols, mono- and
diglycerides, steriods, terpene and carotenoids
 Lipids
• Glycerides, cholesterol and cholesteryl ester
are also called neutral lipids because they are
uncharged.