lipids Flashcards

1
Q

how do you classify a lipid?

A

molecules which are soluble in organic solvents and insoluble in water
they form aggregates held together by weak interactions

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2
Q

what are the 4 functions of lipids?

A

structural component of membrane
intracellular storage depots of metabolic fuel
protection

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3
Q

what are the simplest lipids?

A

fatty acids

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4
Q

which end do you start numbering the carbons in a fatty acid?

A

from the carboxyl group end

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5
Q

what are examples of saturated fatty acids?

A

palmitic acid

stearic acid

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6
Q

what is an example of an unsaturated fatty acid?

A

oleic acid

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7
Q

what is the relationship between chain length and melting point?

A

as the chain lengthens, the melting point increases

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8
Q

how many isomeric forms can molecules that contain double bonds occur in?

A

two

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9
Q

what two isomeric forms can molecules containing double bonds occur in?

A

cis

trans

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10
Q

what are cis isomers?

A

similar groups are on the same side of the double bond

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11
Q

what are trans isomers?

A

similar groups are on opposite sides of the double bond

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12
Q

what does amphipathic mean?

A

part of the molecule is hydrophobic and part is hydrophilic

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13
Q

what is the relationship between the number of double bonds and the degree of curve of the chain?

A

the more double bonds the more curve

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14
Q

what angle does a double bond create in a chain?

A

30 degree

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15
Q

what is an acylglycerol?

A

esters of fatty acids with a sugar alcohol called glycerol derived from glyceraldehyde

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16
Q

what is a triacylglycerol?

A

an acylglycerol with 3 fatty acids

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17
Q

what is a diacylglycerol?

A

an acylglycerol with 2 fatty acids

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18
Q

what is a monoacylglycerol?

A

an acylglycerol with one fatty acid

19
Q

what is the function of triacylglycerols?

A

storage of metabolic fuels

20
Q

are triacyglycerols amphipathic?

A

no

21
Q

how are fatty acids broken down?

A

beta oxidation

22
Q

what makes triacylglycerols good for storage?

A

uncharged
neutral
compact

23
Q

what are adipocytes?

A

fat storage cells

24
Q

what is hydrogenation?

A

an industrial process which saturates the double bonds in an oil and solidifies it using hydrogen and a catalyst

25
Q

what is liquefaction?

A

the opposite of hydrogenation

when hard fats are exposed to air and are oxidised and double bonds are formed

26
Q

what are waxes?

A

similar to triacylglycerols but they are esters of long chain fatty acids with long chain monohydroxylic alcohols

27
Q

what is the function of waxes?

A

external protection

28
Q

what are phospholipids?

A

more complex lipids similar to acyclycerols but have a hydrophilic phosphate and alcohol group

29
Q

are phospholipids amphipathic?

A

yes

30
Q

what is the most abundant phospholipid in animal tissue?

A

phosphatidylcholine

31
Q

what is the parent compound of sphingolipids?

A

nitrogenous base

32
Q

what is a sphingosine?

A

a long chain amino alcohol

33
Q

what is a ceramide?

A

a sphingosine joined to a fatty acid

has two long hydrocarbon tails

34
Q

what are the three different subclasses of sphingolipids?

A

sphingomyelins
cerebrosides
gangliosides

35
Q

where are sphingomyelins present?

A

in membranes

especially myelin sheaths

36
Q

what are cerebrosides?

A

a sphingolipid and a glycolipid

37
Q

where are gangliosides found?

A

in cell surface membranes such as in the grey matter of brain tissue

38
Q

what is tay sachs disease?

A

an inherited condition which impairs the function of the lysosomal enzyme beta HEXA

39
Q

what is the result of the beta HEXA enzyme being impaired?

A

prevents the breakdown of GM2 ganglioside

it then accumulates to toxic levels which can cause neuron destruction

40
Q

what does tay sachs disease cause?

A

retarded development
paralysis
blindness
death by the age of 3 or 4

41
Q

what are isoprenoids?

A

a class of hydrocarbons which are composed of repeats of the 5 carbon isoprene unit

42
Q

what are eicosanoids derived from?

A

arachidonic acid

43
Q

what is the role of prostaglandins?

A

local hormones involved in promoting inflammation

44
Q

what do thromboxanes regulate?

A

smooth muscle contraction and nerve transmission