Topic 5: Membrane Lipids Flashcards
What are lipids?
Compounds that are made up of carbon and hydrogen bonds and are non-polar molecules, that help store ATP.
What is a fatty acid?
hydrocarbon ( non-polar) with a carbonyl group(polar) (about 16 carbons)
Are fatty acids amphipathic?
Yes, they have a polar head group (carboxyl) group and non-polar tail (hydrocarbon)
what is an acyl chain?
Hydrocarbon +carboxyl + ester or amide linkage
Saturated fatty acids
Have as many hydrogens as possible due to double bonds only being present in the carboxyl group) (no bend in hydrocarbon tail)
Close together and stay solid unless heated
(ex. butter)
Unsaturated fatty acid
has less hydrogens due to the other double bond other aside from the one in the carboxyl group. Have larger spaces due to the bends in the hydrocarbon chain thus they’re not tightly packed and they are always liquids.
(sunflower oil)
monounsaturated: one double bond
polyunsaturated: many double bonds
- For each of the following lipids, describe the basic chemical structure and properties of the lipid and whether it is found in membranes:
a. triacylglycerols
TAG’s: glycerol +3 fatty acids
formed by ester linkage between carboxyl group and Oh on glycerol (by dehydration).
NOT FOUND IN MEMBRANES!!! they’re just used for energy
- For each of the following lipids, describe the basic chemical structure and properties of the lipid and whether it is found in membranes:
b. glycerophospholipids
are made up of a backbone of glycerol with 2 fatty acids on top of the glycerol is a phosphate and a head group (choline, serine. ethanol amine).
ARE FOUND IN MEMBRANES
- For each of the following lipids, describe the basic chemical structure and properties of the lipid and whether it is found in membranes:
c. sphingomyelin
Sphingomyelin is made up of a backbone(sphingosine =hydrocarbon +amine), choline head and phosphate, 1 fatty acid tail
