Lipids

Question 1

Lipids

Answer 1

Organic molecule that is relatively insoluble in water but very soluble in Nonpolar substances.

Question 2

Classes of Lipids and What Lipids Fall Under Class

Answer 2

Acetogenic: Fatty Acids, Wax Esters (WEs), Triacyglycerols (TAGs)

Isoprenoid: Sterols, Quinones, Pigments, GDGTs

Question 3

Compare Molecular Structures of Acetogenic & Isoprenoid Lipids

Answer 3

Acetogenic: Long linear chains, London Dispersion Forces, Polar

Isoprenoid: Cyclic Structures or Branched Chains

Question 4

What are the main lipids that make up cell membrane?

Answer 4

Phospholipids (derivative of fatty lipids), & GDGTs

Question 5

What is the ideal structure of an Acetogenic membrane?

Answer 5

Polar Outside, Nonpolar Inside (like sand which) and outside solution. This structure is ideal due to the interactions with water.

Question 6

What affects a membrane’s fluidity?

Answer 6

Composition of Fatty Acids: Unsaturated cause fluidity (double bonds), Saturated cause Viscous

Temperature: Hot cause fluidity, Cold cause viscous

Adding Isoprenoids! Isoprenoids are like adding double bounds which makes membrane more fluid.

Question 7

Compare and Contrast Eukaryotes, Bacteria, and Archaea Lipids

Answer 7

Bacteria: Phospholipid (dominant lipid), Acetogenic & Bilayer Membrane, Hopanes

Eukaryotes: Phospholipid (dominant lipid), Acetogenic & Bilayer Membrane, Sterols

Archaea: GDGTs (dominant lipid), Isoprenoid & Monolayer Membrane

Question 8

Main Function of Lipids

Answer 8

Energy Storage! (due to its tightly pact Hydrogen and Carbon structure)

Question 9

Triaclyglyceride and it’s Importance

Answer 9

Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids
- Main energy storage lipid (Acetogenic)
- Phytoplankton accumulate TAGs over day and consume them at night
- Released by Phytoplankton under stress conditions