Lipids Flashcards
What are the types of lipids
- triglycerides
- phospholipids
Describe the structure of trigylcerides.
- made of glycerole and 3 fatty acids
- joined together by ester bonds
- are either satuated or unsaturated
What are the properties of triglyceride?
- has a high amount of carbon-hydrogen bonds
- low mass to energy ratio
- large and non-polar
- high ratio of hydrogen-oxygen
How does the high amount carbon-hydrogen bonds relate to truglyceride’s function ?
- carbon-hydrogen bonds are an energy store
- so lots of them make triglyceride a greate energy store
How does a low mass to energy ratio relate to truglyceride’s structure?
- it means that a high amount of energy can be stores in a small space
- beneficial for animals as there is less mass to carry around
How does being large and non-polar relate to truglyceride’s structure?
it makes insoluble in water which means that it won’t affect the water potential of cells
How does the high amount hydrogen-oxygen atoms relate to truglyceride’s structure?
- it means that when condensation occurs water molecules will be produced
- this supplies a source of water for animals in dry climates
Describe the structure of the phosopholipids.
- 2 fatty acids and a phophate molecule attached to a glyceride
- phosphate group head is hydrophilic
- fatty acid tails are hydrophobic
- polar
How does being polar relate to phosopholipid’s function?
- it creates a bilayer in aqueous environments
- having hydrophilic head used to hold on the surface of the cell membrane
How does their general structure relate to phosopholipid’s function?
it allows them to bond with carbohydrates to form glycolipids which is essentail for cell recognition
What does it mean when a triglyercide are unsaturated?
it containes carbon double bonds
