Lipids Flashcards
1
Q
Fatty acids
A
long hydrocarbon chain and a carb acid group
saturated= single bonds, unsaturated= double bonds (creates a kink. trans for more favourable because is straight)
2
Q
Phospholipids
A
fatty acid and glycerol
ester bond and phosphdiester head
more chanis added, the less polar it becomes
3
Q
Sphingolipids
A
linked by sphingosphine
have specific roles (signalling etc)
4
Q
Steroids
A
have a fixed shape due to cyclisation
Control membrane fluidity
5
Q
Membrane lipids
A
phosphatidycholine (most abundant in mem)
polar H phillic heads
non polar H phobic tails
6
Q
Bilayer movement
A
- Lateral diffusion
- Flip flopping up to down
- flexion and rotation
7
Q
fluidity importance
A
- Allows membrane to fuse
- allows even distribution of membrane molecules
- processes such as excesytosis, mem. trafficking & synthesis.
8
Q
How to decrease fluidity?
A
increase cholesterol
increase chain length
increase unsaturation