Lipid Structure & Function Flashcards
What elements comprise a phospholipid ?
Phosphate & alcohol (head) + hydrophobic fatty acid tail
What 2 properties determine how the phospholipid molecule will behave ?
The degree of saturation & length
What type of bonds do fully saturated fatty acid tails & unsaturated fatty acid tails have ? (respectively)
- Only single bonds
- 1 or more double bonds
Phospholipids that contain a glycerol backbone bonded by ester linkages to 2 fatty acids & by phosphodiester linkage to a highly polar head group is known as ?
Glycerophospholipids (phosphoglycerides)
*Are all phospholipids!
Phospholipids that contain a sphingosine or sphingoid backbone with a long non-polar fatty acid tail + polar head group is known as ?
Sphingolipids
What are the 4 major subclasses of sphingolipids ?
- Ceramide (simplest)
- Sphingomyelin (myelin)
- Glycosphingolipids (not phospholipids)
- Gangliosides: cell interaction, signal transduction, & recognition (not phospholipid)
A class of liquids built from isoprene (C5H8) that serve as precursors to steroids & other lipid signaling molecules is known as ?
Terpenes
*Oxygenation or rearrangement of carbon skeleton = Terpenoids
Which compound is responsible for mediating membrane fluidity ?
Cholesterol
What are the fat-soluble vitamins & what are their main functions ?
A: carotene (important in vision, growth, & immune function)
D: calcitriol (increase Ca2+ & phosphate uptake in intestines to promote bone production)
E: antioxidants
K: required to form prothrombin: clotting factor in blood
What type of cells store large amounts of fats & are found primarily under the skin around mummery glands & in the abdominal cavity ?
Adipocytes
The ester hydrolysis of triacylglycerols via a strong base is a process known as ?
Saponification
- Typically uses Lye: NaOH/KOH
- Micelles: tiny aggregates of soap
