Lipids Flashcards
Saturated fats
Have no double c bonds and a regular structure
Unsaturated fat
Have double C bonds giving them an irregular shape and making them easier to break down.
What is one of the main components of membranes
Phospholipids
What is the structure of triglycerides?
3fatty acids bonded to one glycerol
What is the structure of phospholipids
Two fatty acid “tails” attached to a phosphate group “head”
What is the polarity and affinity to water of a phospholipid
The head is polar and hydrophilic
The tail is non polar and hydrophobic
What is usually bonded to the phosphate group in a phospholipid?
An alcohol
What is cholesterol?
A steroid/type of lipid not made of glycerol or fatty acids
And it has 4 carbon based rings or isoprene units
Why is cholesterol a lipid?
Because it contains a type of alcohol
What does cholesterol do?
Regulates the fluidity of the membrane (preventing it from being to fluid or stiff)
What are some forms of cholesterol?
Testosterone oestrogen and vitamin D
What are lipids?
A group of substances that are soluble in alcohol rather than water
What is a macromolecule?
A very large organic molecule
I hat is glycerol?
An alcohol with free OH groups. It has three OH groups
Structure of fatty acids
They have a carboxyl group and a hydrocarbon tail.it is an an acid because the carboxyl group ionises into H+ and (COO-)group
