Lecture 22 Flashcards
Why are fatty acids amphiphilic?
Because of the carboxylate and the hydrocarbon
What is the hydrophilic end of a fatty acid?
The carboxylate with a negative charge at pH 7
What is the Hydrophobic end of a fatty acid?
The hydrocarbon chain portion
In what configuration are most of the double bonds in fatty acids?
They exist in the cis/Z configuration
What is a monounsaturated fatty acid?
One that contains a single double bond
What is a polyunsaturated fatty acid?
One that contains many double bonds
What does it say about the pka of fatty acids if they carry a negative charge at pH 7?
The pH is greater than the pka in that functional group and it is in the base form. And the pka is less than 7
What conformation are most naturally occuring double bond in?
The cis conformation
What properties does the cis conformation affect?
Melting point
How does cis conformation affect melting point?
It lowers melting point making it melt a lower temperature
How do cis double bonds affect physical structure?
It introduces kinks or bends into the overall structure
Which carbon do you start counting from when counting the number of carbons in a fatty acid?
The carbon in the carboxyl group is alway the first carbon
What is carbon number two in a fatty acid chain?
The carbon that is attached to a carboxyl group
What is the ɑ carbon in a fatty acid?
The carbon that is attached to the carboxyl group within the fatty acid. Usually carbon 2
What is the greek letter designation of carbon number three in fatty acid chains?
It is the β carbon
What is the beta carbon in fatty acids?
It is the third carbon in a fatty acid
What does beta oxidation have to do with?
The oxidation of the beta carbon in a fatty acid
What is the greek letter designation of the very last carbon of a fatty acid?
It is the omega carbon
What is the ɷ carbon?
The very last carbon in a fatty acid chain
What is the shorthand notation for describing fatty acids?
(# of carbons):(# of double bonds)𝛥(locations of double bonds separated by commas)
What configuration is the double bond assumed to be unless otherwise stated in shorthand fatty acid notation?
They are assumed to cis unless it says trans
How does a double bond physically affect a hydrocarbon chain?
It introduces a bend in the hydrocarbon chain
What is the preferred conformation of fatty acids?
The conformation that gets the carbons as far away from each other as possible to create a low energy structure
What kind of aspect does a double bond introduce into a fatty aicd structure?
A rigid aspect
How do double bonds affect degrees of freedom?
It creates less degrees of freedom