Fat metabolism Flashcards
What type of molecules are lipids?
Hydrophobic organic molecules
What are 3 functions of a lipid?
- Bilayer
- Energy stores
- Intra cellular signalling
What are the 2 main types of lipids?
Fatty acids
Glycerols (mono, di, tri)
What is the structure of a fatty acid?
Carboxylic acid with long chain hydrocarbon side groups
What species contain fatty acids?
Higher plants and animals
Where can fatty acids found in the body and how is it transported?
Plasma - serum albumin
How can fatty acids be used by tissues?
They are oxidised (liver & muscle) for energy
Can the brain metabolise fatty acids?
No - albumin cannot pass blood membrane barrier
What is the structure of a glycerol?
H2OC - HOC - H2OC
How are the tails attached to the glycerol?
Esterification
What Carbon number do the double bonds appear?
Carbon 9
Where are glycerols found? (2)
Fats and oils of plants and animals
Energy reserves - most abundant fatty acid
Where are fatty acids stored?
Adipose tissue
How are fatty acids stimulated to be released?
Hormone-sensitive lipase (removes fatty acid from C1 or C3)
How does hormone sensitive lipase become active? (2)
- Phosphorylated by a 3’-5’ cyclic amp protein kinase
2. Glucagon/epinephrine binds to the cells
How is hormone-senstive lipase deactivated?
High insulin or glucose causes dephosphorylation and inactivates
Where does glycerol released go?
To the liver via the blood
How does the Beta carbon (2) chain get broken down, where does this occur and what are the products?
Oxidation
Mitochondrial matrix
Acetyl CoA, NADH, FADH2
What is the equation for long fatty acid chain breakdown?
Fatty acid + CoA + ATP Acyl-CoA + AMP + PPi
What is used to prime long chain fatty acid breakdown?
Thiokinases
What is the long chain fatty acid breakdown driven by?
Exergonic hydrolysis of pyrophosphate - highly exergonic