THE LIPID MOLECULE
Lipids are a variety of naturally-occurring molecules. Lipid examples are fats, waxes, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and many more. The main reasons for lipids are energy storage, structural components for cell membranes, and signaling molecules. Most lipids are defined as hydrophobic or amphiphilic. Being an amphiphilic lipid they can form structures such as vesicle, liposomes, or membranes in an aqueous environment. There are eight different categories that lipids can fall into. The eight categories are fatty acyls, glycerolipids, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, saccharolipids, polyketides, sterol lipids and prenol lipids.
Fatty acyls are basically fatty acids. They just use a big scientific name for it. The fatty acid structure is one of the most fundamental categories of biological lipids. Most people think of lipids as fats, and fatty acids. But lipids also play a part in cholesterol as well. Glycerolipids are otherwise known as triglycerides. It is also a well know fatty acid. Glycerophospholipids are referred to as phospholipid. Their purpose is being involved in metabolism and cell signaling. Sphingolipids common structural feature, with a sphingoid base has a backbone that is synthesized ''de novo'' from the amino acid. A sterol lipid, an example is cholesterol. They are an important component of membrane lipids. Prenol lipids are combined from the 5-carbon precursors isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate.
A saccharolipids are compounds in which fatty acids are linked directly to a sugar backbone. When the fatty acids are directly linked they form structures that are compatible with membrane bilayers. And the last type of lipid is polyketides. Polyketides are combined by polymerization of acetyl and propionyl subunits.
Fats and oils are not polymers unlike carbohydrates and proteins. If the R group has single bonds, the fatty acid is saturated. If it has double bonds, it is unsaturated. The presence of lipids can be checked with the emulsion test. The most important thing in the cell membrane is the phospholipid. Lipids and fats are found in your diet every day. Fats and lipids are high in concentration of energy, and acts as a carrier to fat soluble vitamins. Glycerol is an alcohol which contains three carbon atoms and three hydroxyl groups, which can combine with fatty acids to form mono, di or triglycerides. Fatty acids can be classified as saturated or unsaturated - depending on the presence or absence of double bonds. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to lower cholesterol blood levels in certain circumstances while saturated fatty acids tend to raise them.
Fatty acyls are basically fatty acids. They just use a big scientific name for it. The fatty acid structure is one of the most fundamental categories of biological lipids. Most people think of lipids as fats, and fatty acids. But lipids also play a part in cholesterol as well. Glycerolipids are otherwise known as triglycerides. It is also a well know fatty acid. Glycerophospholipids are referred to as phospholipid. Their purpose is being involved in metabolism and cell signaling. Sphingolipids common structural feature, with a sphingoid base has a backbone that is synthesized ''de novo'' from the amino acid. A sterol lipid, an example is cholesterol. They are an important component of membrane lipids. Prenol lipids are combined from the 5-carbon precursors isopentenyl diphosphate and dimethylallyl diphosphate.
A saccharolipids are compounds in which fatty acids are linked directly to a sugar backbone. When the fatty acids are directly linked they form structures that are compatible with membrane bilayers. And the last type of lipid is polyketides. Polyketides are combined by polymerization of acetyl and propionyl subunits.
Fats and oils are not polymers unlike carbohydrates and proteins. If the R group has single bonds, the fatty acid is saturated. If it has double bonds, it is unsaturated. The presence of lipids can be checked with the emulsion test. The most important thing in the cell membrane is the phospholipid. Lipids and fats are found in your diet every day. Fats and lipids are high in concentration of energy, and acts as a carrier to fat soluble vitamins. Glycerol is an alcohol which contains three carbon atoms and three hydroxyl groups, which can combine with fatty acids to form mono, di or triglycerides. Fatty acids can be classified as saturated or unsaturated - depending on the presence or absence of double bonds. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have been shown to lower cholesterol blood levels in certain circumstances while saturated fatty acids tend to raise them.