Lipids Flashcards
what is the structure and function of a tryglyceride?
structure: 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids.
function: provide energy
saturated vs unsaturated fats?
A saturated fatty acid has no doubles bond, and a unsatured fatty acids does have double bonds
cis vs. trans unsaturated fatty acids
trans = hydrogens atoms on alternate sides when a double bond is present.
cis = hydrogen atoms on same sides when a double bond is present.
Lipids are overall…..
nonpolar! except for phospholipids that have polar and nonpolar regions.
why are lipids nonpolar?
because they have a greater number of carbon-hydrogen bonds, and carbon and hydrogen have a nonpolar bond because the electronegativity difference is small.
what is the structure and function of a phospholipid?
structure: 1 glycerol + 2 fatty acids + phosphate
(the glycerol and phosphate is in the head, and the 2 fatty acids are the tails)
function: they work in our cell membranes and cells as barrier
which part of a phospholipid is hydrophobic and hydrophillic?
the head is hydrophillic
and the tail is hydrophobic.
phospholipids are arranged in a bilayer in what?
the cell membrane!
the tails from both layers face each others, and the heads face “out” towards that water surface.
which are molecules are found in the phospholipid head?
phosphate, glycerol, carbonyl head of fatty acid
what is the strucutre and function of steroids?
structure: 3 hexagons and 1 pentagon
function: membrane fluidity; hormones; medications
what is one example of a steroid and describe its function.
cholesterol - important in regulating cell membrane fluidity and is the basic steroid from which steroid hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are made
what is the stucture and function of waxes?
structure: long chain alcohol (an alcohol with many carbons) + a fatty acid
function: coat the surface of leaves to prevent water loss
