Fatty Acids & Lipids Flashcards
2 characteristics of lipids
- Low solubility in water
- Relatively hydrophobic
9 function of lipids
- Energy storage: good packing due to hydrophobic nature
- Insulation from Environment: high heat capacity (can “absorb” heat)
- Water repellant: hydrophobic nature
- Bouyancy control & acoustics in in marine mammals
- Membrane structure: main structure of cell membranes
- Cofactors for enzymes: vit K - blood clot formation
- Signaling molecules: growth factors, hormones
- Pigments: colour of tomatoes, carrots
- Antioxidants: Vit E
Two major lipid categories
- Lipids that contain fatty acids (complex lipids)
- Lipids that dont contain FAs (cholesterol, vitamins, pigments)
What categories can complex lipids be further divided into
- Storage lipids
- Membrane lipids
What is the healthy kind of fat
Unsaturated fat - contains double bonds
Which 2 fats are the unhealthy fats
- Trans fats
- Saturated fats
Saturated fats
No double bonds between carbons in the alkyl chain
Monounsaturated fats
One double bond between carbons in the alkyl chain
Polyunsaturated fats
More than one double bond in the alkyl chain
What would 18:1 delta 9 mean
- 18 carbons
- 1 double bond
- Double bond on 9th carbon from carbonyl carbon (COOH carbon)
What does 18:1 omega 9 mean
- 18 carbons
- 1 double bond
- Double bond 9 carbons from the terminal methyl (last carbon)
What happens when the length of hydrocarbon chain increases in FAs (2)
- The solubility of the FA in water decreases, as molecule is becoming more non polar, less able to form hydrogen bonds with water
- The melting point of the FA increases also
What are the 2 major classes of polyunsaturated FAs
- Omega 6
- Omega 3
(essential FAs)
What does the cis configuration of double bonds do to the fatty acid chain
Kinks the chain
What way do saturated FAs pack
In an orderly way - no d bonds = no kinks in chains