Lipids Flashcards
What are the functions of lipids
Long term energy storage
Insulation
Protection of internal organs
Chemical signals (hormones)
Cellular membranes
What is the structure of lipids
Primary structure of all lipids is a hydrocarbon chain (C, H, and smaller amounts of O)
May contain functional groups (OH, C=O, COOH)
Scientific name for fats (not lipids) and the structure
Triglycerides
Same general structure: glycerol backbone, and three fatty acid chains
What is glycerol
Three carbon chain with three hydroxyl groups
Can bond with three fatty acid chains (called ester linkage)
One fatty acid chain binding at each hydroxyl group
What are fatty acid chains
Hydrocarbon chains that can be long/short and saturated/unsaturated
Each fatty acid chain has a non polar carboxyl group (COOH)
What are saturated fatty acids including examples
Do not contain double bonds
Straight (easily stacked)
Solid at room temp
Ex. coconut oil: not bad because medium chain triglycerides= easily broken down
Animal fats , butter
What are unsaturated fatty acids including examples
Contain double bonds ( one or more double bonded carbon)
Crooked
Liquid at room temp
Ex. Plant oils
Why does the double bond matter for the function of omegas
Where double bond is b/w 3 and 4 = omega 3 fatty acid
Where double bond is b/w 6 and 7= omega 6 fatty acid
Trans fats are ____ for our health but taste ______ because …
Bad
Good
The hydrogen on the double bonded carbon are on opposite sides , structure= function
What reaction occurs when glycerol and fatty acids become triglycerides
Condensation reaction
What is the structure of a phospholipid
A glycerol backbone, a phosphate group, a nitrogen group, and two fatty acid chains
Phospholipids are divided into what
Two sections: the head and the tail
Head: polar consisting of glycerol backbone, phosphate group, nitrogen group
Tail: fatty acid chains, hydrophobic
The phospholipid cell membrane is made out of what
A phospholipid bilayer where water and other polar/ionic substances cannot pass through
Steroids are
Hydrophobic (non polar) molecules containing hydrocarbon rings and functional groups
Ex testosterone and estrogen
Waxed are formed via
A condensation reaction b/w a long chain fatty acid (carboxyl) and a long chain alcohol (hydroxyl)
Are hydrophobic
Ex cutin on plants controls how much water gets into the plant
