Structural lipids Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 5 types of structural lipids?

A
Glycerophospholipids
Galactolipids/sulfolipids
Archaeal tetraether lipids
Sphingolipids
Sterols
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2
Q

What two general categories are structural lipids divided into?

A

Phospholipids and glycolipids

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3
Q

What is the polar head group of phospholipids? Which types of structural lipids are phospholipids?

A

Phosphate group. Glycerophospholipids and some sphingolipids

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4
Q

What is the polar head group of glycolipids? Which types of structural lipids are glycolipids?

A

Sugar group. Includes galactolipids, sulfolipids and some sphingolipids

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5
Q

How are archaeal ether lipids structured?

A

Contains 2 polar phosphates on the end connected by hydrophobic chains, linked with ether linkages

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6
Q

What is the structure of glycerophospholipids?

A

Two fatty acids attached to a glycerol. The third position of the the glycerol has a phosphate attached. The phosphate has a polar head attached to it

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7
Q

What are the 7 possibilities for the polar head group on a glycerophospholipid?

A
Hydrogen 
Ethanolamine
Choline
Serine
Glycerol
Myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate
Phosphatidylglycerol
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8
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a hydrogen as its polar head group called? Where is this found? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidic acid. Not found in membranes, but has other uses. Net charge of -2

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9
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with an ethanolamine as its polar head group called? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidylethanolamine. Net charge of 0

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10
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a choline as its polar head group called? Where is it found? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidylcholine. It is very common in the outer leaflet of membranes. Net charge of 0

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11
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a serine as its polar head group called? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidylserine. Net charge of -1

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12
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a myo-inositol 4,5-bisphosphate as its polar head group called? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate. Net charge of -4

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13
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a glycerol as its polar head group called? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Phosphatidylglycerol. Net charge of -1

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14
Q

What is a glycerophospholipid with a phosphatidylglycerol as its polar head group called? Where is it found? What is the net charge of the lipid?

A

Cardiolipin (is a double phospholipid). Found in the outer mitochondrial membrane and in bacterial membranes. Net charge is -2

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15
Q

Where are galactolipids found?

A

In plants: thylakoid membranes

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16
Q

What is the most abundant membrane lipid on earth?

A

Galactolipids

17
Q

Why is having galactolipids in their thylakoid membranes instead of phospholipids an advantage?

A

Phosphate is a limiting nutrient in the soil and having galactolipids instead of phospholipids means that the plants can use less phosphate

18
Q

What is the polar head group in galactolipids?

A

Galactose

19
Q

What is the structure of archaeal membrane lipids? What is it called?

A

One polar carbohydrate end and one glycerol phosphate end connected by 2 branched hydrophobic diphytanyl chains. The glycerol is attached by an ether linkage. Called GDGT (glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether)

20
Q

Why do the membrane lipids of Archaea help them tolerate extreme environments?

A

The tetraether lipids are interspersed in the membrane, which stabilizes it. The ether linkages are less susceptible to hydrolysis

21
Q

What is the structure of sphingolipids?

A

A sphingosine backbone (instead of glycerol), a polar head group, a fatty acid that is attached to the sphingosine with an amide linkage

22
Q

What are 4 possible head groups in sphingolipids?

A

Hydrogen
Phosphocholine
Glucose
Complex oligosaccharides

23
Q

What is a sphingolipid with a hydrogen as its head group called?

A

Ceramide

24
Q

What is a sphingolipid with a phosphocholine as its head group called? Where is it found?

A

Sphingomyelin. Found in the myelin sheaths on neurons

25
Q

What is a sphingolipid with a glucose as its head group called? Where is it found?

A

Glycolipids. Found in the outer leaflet of membranes

26
Q

What is a sphingolipid with complex oligosaccharides as its head group called? Where is it found?

A

Gangliosides. Found on outer leaflet of membranes, and can have a wide variety of structures by attaching different sugars to it

27
Q

What are the functions of gangliosides?

A

Cellular recognition, cell adhesion, change during development

28
Q

How are gangliosides involved in diseases?

A

Tumours have unique gangliosides, act as receptors for pathogens and their toxins, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Tay-Sachs

29
Q

What is Guillain-Barre syndrome?

A

An autoimmune reaction to neuron gangliosides that causes temporary acute paralysis

30
Q

What happens if gangliosides can’t get broken down?

A

Causes lysosomal storage diseases like Tay-Sachs that are usually lethal

31
Q

What do sterols do?

A

Structural components of membranes

32
Q

What is the structure of sterols?

A

They have a nucleus that varies between sterols, but is rigid and planar in cholesterol. The polar head group is just a hydroxyl

33
Q

What is the structure of cholesterol?

A

Rigid and planar nucleus that is the same length as the average phospholipid

34
Q

Why is cholesterol so important in animal cell membranes?

A

Acts as a membrane fluidity buffer. Prevents the phospholipids from packing too tightly at low temperatures and becoming too fluid at high temperatures