[09] Lipidomics Flashcards
What is Lipidomics?
A branch of metabolomics that studies the structure and function of lipids in a biological system.
What does lipidomics involve?
Identification and quantification of thousands of pathways and networks of lipid molecules using advanced technologies.
Initials: LC-MS
Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
What is Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)?
An analytical technique often used in lipidomics for separating, identifying and quantifying molecules in a mixture.
What are lipids?
Diverse group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.
What are the key functions of lipids?
- Energy storage
- Cell membrane structure
- Signaling molecules
- Vitamins and hormones
What are the four main classes of lipids?
- Fatty acids
- Glycerolipids
- Sterol lipids
- Phospholipids
What are fatty acids?
Carboxylic acids with a long aliphatic chain, which is either saturated or unsaturated.
What are glycerolipids?
Lipids that contain a glycerol molecule bonded to fatty acids.
What are sterol lipids?
Lipids characterized by a rigid system of four fused hydrocarbon rings forming the skeleton of the molecule.
What are phospholipids?
Lipids that contain a phosphate group, often involved in forming cell membranes.
Initials: FA
Fatty acids
Initials: GL
Glycerolipids
Initials: SL
Sterol lipids
Initials: PL
Phospholipids
