Lipids and Membranes Flashcards
1
Q
What are the cellular functions of lipids?
A
- Essential components of membranes
- Energy storage
- Signaling events
2
Q
What are the properties of lipids?
A
- Not true polymers
- Soluble in organic solvents and detergents
- Mostly amphipathic
- Huge variety of structures
3
Q
What are fatty acids?
A
- Carboxylic acid followed by long hydrocarbon chains
- 14-40 carbon long in plants and animals
- C16 and C18 are the most common
- Can have saturated or unsaturated bonds (affects physical properties)
4
Q
Stearic acid
A
18 carbons, 0 double bonds (fully saturated)
5
Q
Oleic acid
A
18 carbons, 1 double bond (one degree unsaturated)
6
Q
Linoleic acid
A
18 carbons, 2 double bonds (2 degrees unsaturated)
7
Q
alpha-Linoleic acid
A
18 carbons, 3 double bonds (3 degrees unsaturated)
8
Q
Palmitic acid
A
16 carbons, 0 double bonds (fully saturated)
9
Q
What are triacylglycerols?
A
- Aka triglcerides
- Basis for storage fat in animal tissues
- Glycerol backbone
- 3 fatty acids connected to backbone by ester linkages
- Nonpolar
10
Q
What are glycerophospholipids?
A
- Aka phospholipids
- Major component of biological membranes
- Glycerol-3-phosphate backbone
- 2 fatty acids (C1 and C2) connected by ester linkages
- Head group connected to phosphate group is polar
- Amphipathic (hydrophobic tails and hydrophilic head)
- C1 fatty acid is fully saturated C16-C18
- C2 fatty acid is unsaturated C14-C20
11
Q
Phosphatidic acid
A
H head
12
Q
Phosphatidylethanolamine
A
Ethanolamine head (CH2-CH2-NH3+)
13
Q
Phosphatidylserine
A
Serine head CH2-CH(NH3+)COO-
14
Q
Phosphatidylcholine
A
Choline head CH2-CH2-N(CH3)3+
15
Q
Phosphatidylinositol
A
Inositol head group