Chapter 6: 6.1 Lipids Flashcards

1
Q

Describe:

Lipids

A
  • Very diverse
  • Insoluble in water, but soluble in organic solvents
  • Can be divided into three main biological groups
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2
Q

State:

The 3 Main Biological Groups of Lipids

(Give examples)

A
  1. Storage Lipids (Triacylglycerols)
  2. Structural Lipids (Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Glycolipids, Sterols)
  3. Signaling Lipids (Eicosanoids, Steroids)
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3
Q

What are fatty acids?

A

Building blocks for many different kinds of lipids

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4
Q

Describe:

Structure of Fatty Acids

A

Contains:
* A carboxylic acid group
* A carbon chain (2-22 carbons long)
* An additional methyl group at the end

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5
Q

What are the two forms of fatty acids?

A
  1. Saturated: Only single bonds
  2. Unsaturated: At least one double bond
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6
Q

What type of unsaturated fatty acids are there?

A

The double bond holds a:
* Cis conformation
* Trans conformation

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7
Q

Saturated fatty acids have been linked to…

A

Heart Problems

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8
Q

Trans-fatty acids are linked to…

A

Cardiovascular disease

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9
Q

True or False:

Fatty acids have to be linked together

A

False, they can remain individual as “Free Fatty Acids”

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10
Q

How can fatty acids be linked together?

A
  1. Linked together via ester bonds
  2. Remain individual as “Free Fatty Acids”
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11
Q

What are the two different ways of naming fatty acids?

A
  1. Structural
  2. Systematic (saturated and unsaturated naming schemes are different)
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12
Q

Describe and give example(s):

Structural Naming of Fatty Acids

A

[# C] : [# of Double Bonds] (Δ^position of double bonds)
* i.e. for an fatty acid with 18 carbon (no double bonds: 18:0
* i.e. the same fatty acid with two double bonds: 18:2 (Δ^6,8)

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13
Q

Describe and give example(s):

Systematic Naming of Saturated Fatty Acids

A

n-number of carbons-anoic acid
* i.e. for an fatty acid with 18 carbons: n-Octadecanoic acid

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14
Q

Describe and give example(s):

Systematic Naming of Unsaturated Fatty Acids

A

cis-position of carbon-enoic acid
* i.e. for fatty acid with 18 fatty acids and a single double bond: cis-6-octadecenoic acid
* i.e. for the same fatty acid with two double bonds: cis-6,8-octadecadienoic acid

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15
Q

What effect does the length of the carbon chain and number of double bonds have on the fatty acid?

A
  1. Longer the carbon chain, the higher the melting point of the fatty acid
  2. More double bonds, the lower the melting point of the fatty acid
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16
Q

State:

Relationship between membrane fluidity, unsaturated fatty acids, and melting temperatures

A
  1. A more fluid membrane = More unsaturated fatty acids = A lower melting temperature
  2. A less fluid membrane = Less unsaturated fatty acids = A higher melting temperature
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17
Q

Define:

Triacylglycerols (TAGs)

A

Energy reserves of the cell

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18
Q

Describe:

TAGs

A

Made up of three fatty acids joined by glycerol

19
Q

Where are TAGs found?

A

Found in fat cells (adipocyte cells)

20
Q

Can TAGs be found mixed together?

A

Yes, TAGs can be found as simple or mixed

21
Q

Fats are varying compositions of…

A

Simple and mixed TAGs

22
Q

What does TAG composition dictate?

A

Melting temperature

23
Q

Define:

Glycerophospholipids

A

A structural membrane lipid

24
Q

True or False:

Glycerophospholipids are the most abundant lipids in cellular membranes

A

True, they are one of the most abundant

25
Q

Describe:

Glycerophospholipids

A

Has four components:
1. Fatty acids
2. Glycerol backbone
3. Phosphate
4. Head group

26
Q

What can the net charges for glycerophospholipids be?

A
  1. Neutral (net neutral charge)
  2. Anionic (net negative charge)
27
Q

Define:

Sphingolipids

A

The second most abundant membrane lipid
* Plays a role in signal transduction and cell recognition

28
Q

Describe:

Sphingolipids

A

Structure is built off of sphingosine (an unsaturated 18-carbon amino alcohol)

29
Q

What is a sphingosine?

A

An unsaturated 18-carbon amino alcohol

30
Q

How are sphingolipids broken down?

A

Broken down in lysosomes through hydrolytic enzymes (Glucosidase)

31
Q

What can defects in sphingolipids or their metabolic processes lead to?

A

Neurological disorders
* Gaucher disease etc.

32
Q

Define:

Cholesterol

A

The third most common lipid in cellular membranes
* The most common steroid in mammals

33
Q

Can a steroid be synthesized? Can a steroid be broken down?

A

Yes it can be synthesized but not broken down

34
Q

What are the functions of cholesterol?

A
  • Modulates membrane fluidity
  • Increases membrane packing
  • Reduces the permeability of the membrane
35
Q

State:

The relationship between:
1. Cholesterol
2. Membrane fluidity

A

The more cholesterol, the less fluid the membrane

36
Q

State:

The relationship between:
1. Temperatures
2. Membrane fluidity
3. Cholesterol

A
  • At low temperatures, cholesterol prevents freezing by increasing fluidity
  • At high temperatures, cholesterol reduces fluidity by adding rigidity
37
Q

How are glycerophospholipids converted to fatty acids?

A

Phospholipases hydrolyze ester bonds in glycerophospholipids, coverting them to fatty acids

38
Q

Define/describe:

Steroid hormones

A

Circulate through the blood to targeted tissues and relay messages

39
Q

What is the base for all animal steroids?

A

Cholesterol

40
Q

How do phospholipids contribute to signalling?

A

Through local chemical signals

41
Q

True or False:

DIfferent phospholipases each break different bonds along the glycerol/carbon chain

A

True

42
Q

What are the signalling molecules cleaved by phospholipases?

A

Precursors of eicosanoids

43
Q

What are eicosanoid signalling pathways involved in?

A
  • Inflammation
  • Heat
  • Pain
  • Smooth muscle contraction
  • Pregnancy etc.
44
Q

Describe:

Eicosanoid Signalling

A

Caused by the breaking of bonds in glycerophospholipids by enzymes