Fatty Acids Flashcards
What are the general characteristics of Fatty Acids in eukaryotes? (What are some exceptions, including in prokaryotes?)
Made up of a carboxylic acid head (negative charge in neutral pH) and long hydrocarbon chain.
Most commonly has 12-24 carbons. In eukaryotes almost always even number of carbons! There are exceptions, especially in prokaryotes.
Typically linear in eukaryotic cells.
Can have one or more (0-6) double bonds.
What makes a fatty acid saturated vs unsaturated?
Saturated: max amount of hydrogens on every carbon. So straight chain no double bonds.
Unsaturated: double bonds present, not max number of hydrogens possible in molecule.
What angle does cis-double bonds give the fatty acid?
30° kink in hydrocarbon chain.
Describe fatty acid nomenclature.
What’s the short hand notation of this fatty acid?
Where is the alpha carbon? Beta carbon? Omega carbon?
Are fatty acid double bonds ever conjugated?
NO! Never should have a double bond right next to another double bond.
In omega notation what is this bond called?
Why are omega 3’s and omega 6’s so important for health for us?
We can not synthesize these fatty acids, or ANY fatty acids that have double bonds after the ninth position away from the OMEGA (methyl) end.
How does the size of the molecule affect the melting point?
Bigger the molecule, the higher, the melting point. (Thanks to Van dear Waal forces!)
How do double bonds affect melting points? Cis vs trans too.
All Double bonds lower melting point!
Cis lowers it WAY more than trans.
What changes is melting point more amount of carbons(size) or double bond?
Double bonds!
What’s the “formula” generally for lipids?
