What Are The Four Types Of Lipids – Figure 1. Hydrophobic lipids in the skin of aquatic mammals like this sea urchin protect them from the elements. (Credit: Ken Bosma)
Lipids comprise a diverse group of compounds that are primarily nonpolar in nature. This is because they are mainly hydrocarbons containing non-polar carbon, carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water-fearing”) or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. The cells are used as fat for a long time. Lipids provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals (Figure 1). For example, they help keep waterfowl and mammals dry when they form a protective layer against feathers or feathers due to their hydrophobic nature. Lipids are an important component of many hormones and are an important component of all cell membranes. Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
What Are The Four Types Of Lipids
The molag molecule consists of two main components: glycerol and fatty acids. Glycerol is an organic compound (alcohol) with three carbons, five hydrogens and three hydroxyl (OH) groups. Fatty acids have a long hydrocarbon chain to which a carboxyl group is attached, hence the name “fatty acid”. Acidic acid can have between 4 and 36 carbons; the most common contain 12-18 carbons. In the Molag molecule, the fatty acids are attached to each of the three carbons of the glycerol molecule by an ether bond through an oxygen atom (Figure 2).
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Figure 2. Triacylglycerol is formed by the addition of three fatty acids to the glycerol backbone in a dehydration reaction. In practice, three water molecules are released.
During this ester bond, three water molecules are released. The three fatty acids in triacylglycerol can be the same or different. Due to their chemical structure, fats are also called triacylglycerides or triglycerides. Some fatty acids have common names that identify their origin. For example, palmitic acid, a saturated fatty acid, is derived from the palm tree. Arachidic acid is formed
Fatty acids can be saturated or unsaturated. In a fatty acid chain, a fatty acid is said to be saturated if there is only one bond between adjacent carbons in the hydrocarbon chain. The fatty acids in the tissue are saturated with hydrogen; in other words, the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton is maximized. Stearic acid is an example of a saturated fatty acid (Figure 3).
If there is a double bond in the hydrocarbon chain, the fatty acid is said to be unsaturated. Oleic acid is an example of an unsaturated fatty acid (Figure 4).
Lipids Hydrophobic, Non Polar Molecules
Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and are called fats. If the molecule contains a double bond, it is called an unsaturated fat (eg olive oil) and if there is more than one double bond, it is called a polyunsaturated fat (eg canola oil).
When a fatty acid has no double bonds, it is called a saturated fatty acid because no hydrogen can bond to the carbon atoms in the chain. The oil may contain the same or different fatty acids than the glycerol. Monounsaturated fatty acids are tightly packed and solid at room temperature. Animal fats with stearic acid and palmitic acid (found in meat) and fats with butyric acid (found in lard) are examples of saturated fats. Mammals store fat in specialized cells called adipocytes, where fat globules occupy most of the cell. In plants, oil or fat is stored in many seeds and used as an energy source during seed germination. Unsaturated fats or oils usually come from plants and contain
It shows the configuration of the molecule around the double bond. If the hydrogens are in the same plane, it is called a fatty acid; If the hydrogen atoms are in two different planes, it is called a trans fat. O
The double bond prevents the fatty acids from solidifying and keeps them liquid at room temperature (Figure 5). Olive oil, corn oil, canola oil, and cod liver oil are examples of unsaturated fats. Unsaturated fats help lower blood cholesterol levels, while saturated fats help prevent plaque build-up in the arteries.
Composition Of Membranes
Figure 5. Monounsaturated fatty acids have hydrocarbon chains linked by a single bond. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds. Each double bond can be in the cis or trans configuration. In the cis configuration, two hydrocarbons are on the same side of the hydrocarbon chain. In the trans configuration, the hydrogens are in the opposite direction. A cis double bond causes the chain to contract.
In the food industry, fats are artificially hydrogenated to the desired consistency for semi-solid and highly processed foods. Simply put, hydrogen gas is blown through the oils to solidify them. In this hydrogenation process, the double bond
Fats in a person’s diet can lead to high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad” cholesterol, which in turn can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries and heart disease. In the past, many fast food restaurants have banned its use
Figure 6. Alpha-linolenic acid is an example of an omega-3 fatty acid. Three pairs of double bonds and the result is curved. Carbons are not shown for clarity. Each bonded carbon has two hydrogens attached to it, which are also not shown.
Solved Identify The Different Types Of Lipids And Label The
Essential fatty acids are essential fatty acids but cannot be synthesized by the human body. Finally, it must be nurtured through nutrition. Omega-3 fatty acids (as shown in Figure 6) fall into this category and are one of only two known to humans (the other being omega-6 fatty acids). These are polyunsaturated fatty acids and are called omega-3 because the third carbon at the end of the hydrocarbon chain is attached to the neighboring carbon by a double bond.
) and if the double bond is between the third and fourth carbons on that side, it is called an omega-3 fatty acid. Important nutritionally because the body does not produce them, omega-3 fatty acids include alpha-linoleic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), all of which are polyunsaturated. Onions, trout and tuna are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Research shows that omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death, lower blood triglycerides, lower blood pressure, and prevent thrombosis by preventing blood clots. They also reduce inflammation and may help prevent certain cancers in animals.
Like carbohydrates, fats have gained a lot of popularity. Eating too many processed foods and other “fatty” foods can lead to weight gain. However, fats have important functions. Many vitamins are fat-soluble, and fats serve as a form of long-term storage of acids—a source of energy. It also provides insulation for the body. Therefore, moderate amounts of “healthy” fats should be consumed regularly.
Wax coats the feathers of some waterfowl and the surface of the leaves of some plants. Because of their hydrophobic nature, waxes prevent water from sticking to the surface (Figure 7). Waxes are composed of long chains of fatty acids that break down into long chain alcohols.
Lipids — Overview & Importance In Biology
Phospholipids are major components of the plasma membrane, the outermost layer of animal cells. Like radicals, they consist of fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol or sphingosine backbone. Instead of three fatty acids as in triglycerides, diacylglycerols have two fatty acids, and the third carbon of the glycerol backbone is occupied by a modified phosphate group (Figure 8).
Figure 8. A phospholipid is a molecule that contains two fatty acids and a modified phosphate group attached to a glycerol backbone. Phosphate can be modified by adding charged or polar chemical groups. Here are two chemical groups that can modify phosphate, choline and serine. Choline and serine are attached to the phosphate group at the R position.
Only the phosphate group attached to diglycerol is incompatible with the phospholipid level; phosphatidate (diacylglycerol 3-phosphate), a precursor of phospholipids. The phosphate group is modified by an alcohol. Phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine are two important phospholipids found in plasma membranes. A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule, meaning it has a hydrophobic part and a hydrophilic part. The acid chains are hydrophobic and cannot interact with water, while the phosphate group is hydrophilic and interacts with water (Figure 9).
Figure 9. The phospholipid bilayer is a major component of all cell membranes. The hydrophilic head groups of phospholipids face the aqueous solution. Hydrophobic tails split in the middle of the bilayer.
Lipids: Structure, Function And Examples
The head is hydrophilic and the tail contains hydrophobic fatty acids. In a membrane, a bilayer of phospholipids forms the structural matrix, with the fatty acid tails of the phospholipids on the inside, away from water, and the phosphate groups on the outside, on the aqueous side (Figure 9).
Phospholipids are responsible for its dynamic nature