Lipids

• Lipids

  • commonly called fats and oils
  • in all cells
  • made of hydrocarbons
  • non-polar
  • high energy content
  • two types: triglycerides, phospholipids
• Triglycerides

  • 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids
  • fatty acid tails: hydrophobic
  • Glycerol head: hydrophilic
  • tails can be saturated or unsaturated
  • 3 ester bonds

  
• Types of fatty acid chains

  • Saturated
  • Mono-unsaturated
  • poly-unsaturated
• Saturated fats


  • single bonds
  • can't add anything more

  
• Mono-unsaturated fats


  • one c-c double bond
  • has a kink in it
  • is angled, spreads out

  
• Poly-unsaturated fats


  more than one double bond

  
• Affect of double bonds


  • pushes molecules apart
  • makes them more fluid
• Oils


  • Unsaturated fatty acids
  • liquids at room temperature
  • Plant lipids

  
• Fats


  • Saturated fatty acids
  • solids at room temp
  • Animal lipids