Lipid transport Flashcards
1
Q
lipids
A
- triacylglycerol, fatty acids, cholesterol, cholesterol esters, phospholipids, vitamin A D E K
- hydrophobic so insoluble in water so must be transported in plasma bound to carriers
- ~98% carried as lipoprotein particles
- ~2% (fatty acids) carried bound non-covalently to albumin but has a limited capacity ~3mmol/L
2
Q
typical plasma lipid concentrations
A
- triacylglycerol 0-2 mmol/L
- phospholipids ~2.5 mmol/L
- total cholesterol <5 mmol/L
- cholesterol esters ~3.5 mmol/L
- free fatty acids 0.3-0.8 mmol/L
- total lipids 4000-8500 mg/L
3
Q
phospholipids
A
- hydrophilic polar phospholipid head
- hydrophobic nonpolar fatty acid tails
- classified according to their polar head group
- forms liposomes, micelles and bilayer sheets
4
Q
cholesterol
A
- some obtained from diet but mostly synthesised in liver
- essential component of membrane fluidity
- precursor of steroid hormones (cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, oestrogen)
- precursor of bile acids
- transported around body as cholesterol ester
5
Q
what are lipoprotein particles
A
- multi-molecular complexes containing variable amounts of different lipids in non-covalent (hydrophobic) association with specific proteins
- main function is to transport water-insoluble lipid molecules in bloodstream
6
Q
what are apolipoproteins
A
- each class of lipoproteins has a particular complement of proteins
- six major classes (A, B, C, D, E, H)
- apoB and apoAI important
- can be integral or peripheral to phospholipid bilayer
- structural role: packaging water insoluble lipids as they have hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions
- functional roles: cofactor for enzymes and ligands for cell surface receptors
7
Q
lipoprotein structure
A
surface coat
- phospholipid monolayer with cholesterol
- peripheral apolipoproteins (apoC, apoE)
- integral apolipoproteins (apoA, apoB)
hydrophobic core (cargo)
- triacylglycerols
- cholesterol esters
- fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K)
8
Q
lipoprotein stability
A
- only stable if they maintain spherical shape
- dependent on ratio of core to surface lipids
- as lipid from hydrophobic core is removed and taken up by tissues, surface coat must also be reduced
9
Q
classes of lipoproteins
A
- differ in relative amounts of type of lipids and apolipoprotein composition
- different physical properties like net electrical charge, size, molecular weight, density
- can be separated by electropheresis or flotation ultracentrifugation
10
Q
what are the classes of lipoproteins and their functions
A
- chylomicrons transport dietary TAG from intestine to tissues
- VLDL transport TAG synthesised in liver to adipose tissue for storage
- IDL is a short-lived precursor for LDL and transports cholesterol synthesised in liver to tissues
- LDL transports cholesterol synthesised in liver to tissues
- HDL transports excess tissue cholesterol to liver for disposal as bile salts and to cells requiring additional cholesterol
11
Q
lipoprotein particle sizes
A
particle diameter inversely proportional to density
bigchylomicron-VLDL-IDL-LDL-HDLsmall
12
Q
lipoprotein lipase
A
- removes core TAGs from lipoprotein particles
- attached to endothelial surface of capillaries in adipose tissue and muscle
- hydrolyses TAGs in lipoproteins releasing fatty acids and glycerol
- requires apoC-II as cofactor
12
Q
lipoprotein lipase
A
- removes core TAGs from lipoprotein particles
- attached to endothelial surface of capillaries in adipose tissue and muscle
- hydrolyses TAGs in lipoproteins releasing fatty acids and glycerol
- requires apoC-II as cofactor
13
Q
LCAT (lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase)
A
- important in formation of lipoproteins and maintaining structure
- converts cholesterol to cholesterol ester using fatty acid derived from lecithin
- deficiency results in unstable lipoproteins of abnormal structure and failure of lipid transport
14
Q
chylomicron metabolism
A
- fatty acids re-esterified to TAG using glycerol phosphate in small intestine epithelial cells
- TAGs packaged with other dietary lipids (fat, cholesterol, vitamins) into chylomicrons
- apoB-48 added to chylomicrons and released into lymphatic system
- enter bloodstream at thoracic duct which empties into left subclavian vein
- acquire apoC and apoE and carried to tissues
- lipoprotein lipase on capillary walls of muscle and adipose hydrolyses TAGs releasing fatty acids and glycerol (fatty acids converted to TAG for storage in adipose or utilised for energy in muscle and glycerol transported to liver)
- when TAG reduced to 20%, chylomicron becomes chylomicron remnant
- chylomicron remnants return to liver and bind to LDL receptor so taken up by receptor mediated endocytosis
- lysosomes release remaining contents for use in metabolism