Unit 3.3 (lipids) Flashcards
What is a Lipid?
A hydrophobic biological substance that has a much higher affinity for an organic solvent than for water (many lipids are amphipathic)
What are the 7 classes of lipds?
(1) Fatty Acids
(2) Biological Waxes
(3) Triacylglycerols (TAGs)
(4) Glycerophospholipids
- Ether Glycerophospholipds
- Plasmalogens
- Liposomes (man made)
(5) Sphingolipids
- Sphingomyelins
- Gangliosides
(6) Terpenoids
(7) Steroids
- Cholesterol
- Bile Salts
Define (1) Fatty Acids
Long chain carboxylic acids (usually an even # of carbons)
Can be saturated or unsaturated
Define (2) Biological Waxes
What are some examples of biological waxes?
Waxes are nonpolar esters of fatty acids and long chain alcohols
Ex. Animal skin, leaves of plants, bird feathers, beeswax
Define (3) Triacylglycerols
Are these molecules hydrophobic?
Made from esterification of 3 fatty acids + glycerol
Charges neutralized = completely hydrophobic
What kinds of cells store fat?
Adipocytes
Describe the difference between “Delta Nomenclature” and “w Nomencalture” for Fatty Acids
What is significant about Linoleic acid and Linolenic Acid?
They are both essential fatty acids (EFAs) & must be obtained from diet
Are saturated or unsatured fats “more healthy” for you?
Unsaturated fats
Describe Triglyceride (TAG) Nomenclature
What enzymes store Triglycerides (TAGs)?
What process produces energy for the glycerol portion of TAGs? What about the Fatty Acid portion?
What are advantages/disadvantages for TAGs relative to carbohydrates?
Lipases store TAGs (break TAG ester bond)
Glycerol - Glycolysis ….. Fatty Acids - TCA
Advantages Relative to Carbs:
More energy/gram (9 vs. 4 kcal/g)
Can store without water in adipocytes
Disadvantages relative to Carbs:
Takes longer to “access” the stored energy
Describe the Process of Saponification
Result in 1-tail amphipiles! (forms micelles)
Define (4) Glycerophospholipids
Like TAGS, but have C3 phosphoester instead of acyl ester (2 tailed amphipiles)
In general …. C1 esterified to saturated fatty acid & C2 esterified to unsaturated fatty acid (C2 is longer)
What is one very important Glycerophospholipid? Why is it important?
Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)
Lung Surfactant!
- Decreases the surface tensions of the liquid
coating the alveoli
- Prevents alveoli from collapsing due to water
tension
What is the difference between (4) Glycerophospholipids and “Ether Glycerophospholipids”?
“Ether Glycerophospholipids have an ether group instead of an acyl group at C-1
What are two examples of “Ether Glycerophospholids”? Why are important?
(1) Platelet Activating Factor
Short acetate chain at C2
Potent & versatile biochemical signal molecule
(2) Plasmalogens
~50% of the heart phospholipids are plasmalogens
Most common head groups are phosphoserine, phosphocholine, and phosphoethanolamine
Which kind of lipids are most abundant in bilayer membranes? Why?
(4) Glycerophospholipids (aka phosphoglycerides)
They are 2-tailed amphipiles (these make bilayer membranes)
What are Liposomes? What are they used for? What are they made of?
Liposomes = artificial bilayer vesicles
Often made from glycerophospholipids
Delivery vehicle: Can be used to get hydrophilic drugs into cell
Define (5) Sphingolipids
Weird! (have Nitrogen and TRANS bonds)
18 Carbon AMINO alcohol
What are the 5 major types of Sphingolipids?
- Ceramide
- Sphingomyelin
- Cerebroside
- Globoside
- Ganglioside
Describe “Sphingomyelins” (a type of (5) sphingolipid)
What are they useful for?
Contain phosphocholine or phosphoethanolamine as their polar head group
Prominent in the MYELIN SHEATH - the membrane that surround and insulates the axons of neurons
Where are Cell Membrane Carbohydrates attached to? What is their purpose?
Attached to cell membrane proteins (glycoproteins) and cell membrane lipids (glycolipids) - Face outside of cell
*Mediate cell-cell interactions & serve as attachment points for bacteria, viruses, toxins, signaling hormones, etc.
What kinds of genetic diseases are associated with (5) Sphingolipids? Describe how these work.
- Sphingolipids are broken down by catabolic enzymes
- Genetically acquired absence of one of these enzymes (hexoaminadase) leads to disease
- This leads to accumulation of gangliosides in the cell, with severe medical consequences (Tay-Sacchs Disease)
Define (6) Terpenoids
Lipids built from ISOPRENE units, rather than fatty acids
Where are Terpenoids typically found in nature?
- Archael Cell Membranes (extremephiles)
- Many Vitamis (A, D, E, K) are isoprenoids
What are Vitamins?
Isoprenoids
Vitamins are compounds that are essential to the health of humans and other vertebrates that cannot be synthesized and must be obtained in the diet
Describe (in detail) Cholesterol Biosynthesis
Define (7) Steroids
Characterized by “steroid nucleus” (cholesterol)
*Mostly nonpolar, mostly water insoluble
*Planar Rings (steric rigidity)