Lipids Flashcards
What are the 4 type of lipids
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
Steroids
Waxes
What do triglycerides do
Store energy and trap heat within the body (insulation)
What do Phospholipids do
Form selectively permeable cell membranes
What do steroids do
Hormonal signalling, cell response to environment and growth
What does waxes do
Water resistance and protection
Molecule structure of triglycerides
Composed of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule through dehydration synthesis forming a ester bond
Types of triglycerides
Saturated
* solid at room temp
* no double bonds between carbon atoms
* stearic acid
Unsaturated
* liquid at room temp
* 1 or more double bonds between carbon atoms
* oleic acid
What does a double bond do to the structure
Causes it to bend
What is the structure of a phospholipid
- Composed phosphate group attached to a glycerol molecule (head), and of two fatty acids (legs)
- they are amphipathic - have both a polar and non polar section
Hydrophilic
- Polar section
- the head (phosphate group and the glycerol)
Hydrophobic
- non polar section
- the legs (the two fatty acids)
Steroid structure
Consist of 4 carbon rings with varying functional groups
Examples of steroids
Cholesterol
Testosterone
Estrogen
Progesterone
Molecular structure of wax
Fatty acid bonded to alcohol or carbon rings, creating a ester linkage
