Lipids (CH 3.5) Flashcards
What is a Lipid?
- Loosely defined group of molecules that are INSOLUABLE in water
- Have very high proportion of nonpolar C-H bonds= cluster together when placed in an aqueous environment
What is the structure of a Lipid?
-Glycerol molecule that has 3 fatty acids, one to each Carbon molecule of the glycerol backbone
What are Fatty acids?
-Long Carbon Hydrogen chains with carboxylic acid on one end
What is Glycerol?
-3 carbon polyalcohol (3 -OH group)
What is a Triglyceride?
- A fat molecule bc it has 3 of the C-H chains attached to glycerol
- Very dense form of energy storage for plants & animals
- They’re HIGHLY reduced (have hella H’s) & energy can be released via oxidation
- Have a lot of energy for its mass (9 Kcal)
What ar the 3 types of Lipids?
- Triglycerides (small polymers)
- Phospholipids (small polymers)
- Steroids
What is the structure of a Triglyceride?
- Have 3 fatty acids= carboxylic acids/w long chains of methyl & methylene groups covalently bonded to glycerol
- 30 H groups covalently bonded to carboxylic acid in fatty acids
What are Phospholipids & what is their structure?
- Small polymers that are Polar & Nonpolar
- Have 2 fatty acids & a phosphate covalently bonded to glycerol
- Connected by ester bonds
- Completely nonpolar bc O’s are small part of the molecule & buried inside
What makes Phospholipids different from Triglycerides?
-Phospholipids REPLACE 1 nonpolar fatty acid w/ polar phosphate
What is the function of Phospholipids?
-Major component of the biological membrane
What are Steroids?
- Has backbone of 4 interconnected carbon rings which allows it to be configured in many different ways (cholesterol & lipid hormones)
- Completely nonpolar & are lipids that aren’t polymers
What is the structure of steroids?
- 4 rings of C & H atoms w/ attachments
- Different attachments have different functions (hormones, vitamin D, membrane components)
What does it mean when Membranes are Aggregate?
- They have an irregular noncovalent association w/ molecules
- These molecules are mostly phospholipids & steroids & proteins
- The not covalent polymers allow them to move more
- The nonpolar parts of these components associate by hydrophobic effect
What are the 2 types of fatty acids?
- Saturated
- Unsaturated
What are the characteristics of Saturated fats?
- Are less healthy than unsaturated fats
- Excess consumption can increase heart disease, & risk of diabetes
- Pack well together= easily forms a solid (chicken fat, lard, bacon fat)