Lipids Flashcards
Structure of triglyceride
- One molecule of glycerol
- 3 fatty acids attached
Saturated fatty acids
No double bonds between atoms
Unsaturated fatty acids
At least one double bond between carbons
Triglyceride function
Long hydrocarbon tail - contains a lot of energy
Insoluble - so don’t cause water to enter the cells by osmosis
Bundle up together as insoluble droplets enter the cells as tails are hydrophobic ( water repel) tails face inwards
phospholipid function
Found in a cell membrane known as a phospholipid bilayer
Phospholipid heads are hydrophilic , tails are hydrophobic
Centre of the bilayer is hydrophobic - water-soluble can’t easily pass through the membrane acts a barrier.
Chlorestal
In eukaryotes help regulate the fluidity of the cell membrane of the cell membrane by interacting with phospholipid bilayer
Has a small size flattened shape - allows cholesterol to fit in between phospholipid molecules
At high temperatures bind to hydrophobic tails of the phospholipid - causing them to pack more closely together. Helps the membrane less fluid and more rigid.
Ester bond