Lecture 4 Flashcards
What are the different groups of lipids?
Fats, phospholipids, carotenoids, steroids and waxes
What is the purpose of lipids?
Used for longterm energy storage, structural components of eukaryotic cell membranes and in key hormones
What are eukaryotic cells?
Cells that have a nucleus, organelles and are inclosed by a plasma membrane
Where are waxes found and what is their purpose?
They’re found in plant cells and give leaves their waxy coating to prevent transpiration of water
What is the structure of a fat?
Glycerol and 3 fatty acids
What is another name for fats?
Triglycerides
What is the purpose of triglycerides?
- Form of long-term fuel storage
- The glycogen that our body doesn’t use right away gets stored as fat
Saturated fatty acids?
- Only single bonds
- Solid at room temperature
Unsaturated fatty acids?
- Double bonds
- Liquid at room temperature
What are the two types of unsaturated fatty acids?
- Monounsaturated (one double bond)
- Polyunsaturated (more than one double bond)
What is the structure of a phospholipid?
They’re composed of 2 fatty acid chains, a glycerol, a phosphate, and a polar group
Amphipathic?
When a compound has both a polar end and a non-polar end
Describe the two ends of a phospholipid.
They differ physically and chemically; one end is hydrophilic and the other end is hydrophobic
What are carotenoids role in plants?
- Give plants their orange/yellow colour
- Have a role in photosynthesis
What do animals convert carotenoids to when digested and how?
This molecule is made up of isoprene. It gets cleaved between these different isoprene units, which produces vitamin A and retinal
