LIPIDS
BIOCHEM - LECTURE
DEFINITION b. Waxes: Esters of fatty acids with higher
- Lipids are non-polar (hydrophobic) molecular weight monohydric alcohols.
compounds which can be soluble in COMPLEX LIPIDS:
organic solvents.
- It is composed of C, H, O - Esters of fatty acids containing groups in
Long hydrocarbon chains (H-C) addition to an alcohol and a fatty acid.
- “Family groups”
TYPES OF LIPIDS
Fats
Phospholipids 1. TRIGLYCERIDES
Steroids (TRIACYLGLYCEROLS)
- Do not form polymers - Function as intracellular storage
Big molecules made of smaller molecules for metabolic energy.
subunits 2. PHOSPHOLIPIDS
Not a continuing chain - Lipids containing, in addition to fatty
acids and an alcohol, a phosphoric acid
THE BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF residue. They frequently have nitrogen
LIPIDS ARE DIVERSE containing bases and other substituents.
3. STEROLS
1. Certain lipids (e.g., triacylglycerols) - Precursor and derived lipids.
serves as efficient reserves for the
storage of energy --- STORAGE
LIPIDS
2. Lipids (including mainly
glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids,
and sterols) are the major structural
elements of the bio membrane ---
MEMBRANE LIPIDS
3. The water-insoluble vitamins like FATS AND OILS – THE
vitamin A, D, E, K and some hormones TRIGLYCERIDES WE EAT
(like steroids, and prostaglandins) are
lipids.
4. Lipids also serve as enzyme cofactors,
light-absorbing pigments, intracellular
messenger.
LIPIDS ARE CLASSIFIED AS SIMPLE
OF COMPLEX Triglycerides/fatty acids are
characterized/named by:
SIMPLE LIPIDS: 1. The length/number of carbons in the
- Esters of fatty acids with various side chains.
alcohols. 2. The number of carbon-carbon double
a. Fats: Esters of fatty acids with glycerol. bonds in the side chains (the degree of
unsaturation – depends on the side chain
Oils are fats in the liquid state.
or bonds)
FATTY ACIDS ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
- Fatty acids consist of a hydrocarbon - Omega-3 (ω-3) linolenic and omega-6
chain with a carboxylic acid at one end. (ω-6) linoleic fatty acids are unsaturated
- Fatty acids occur mainly as esters in “Essential Fatty Acids”.
natural fats and oils but do occur in the
EXAMPLE:
unesterified as free fatty acids (FFA).
- The chain may be saturated (containing DHA (docosahexenoic acid)
no double bonds) or unsaturated
(containing one or more double bonds). AA (arachidonic acid)
- Fatty acids also play important roles in - Are both crucial to the optimal
signal-transduction pathways. development of the brain and eyes.
SATURATED FATTY ACIDS SATURATED FATS
Palmitic acid All C bonded to H
Stearic acid No C=C double bonds
Butyric Long, straight chain
UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS Most animal fats
Solid at room temperature
Linolenic acid Contributes to cardiovascular disease
Linoleate (atherosclerosis) = plaque deposits
Arachidonic acids
UNSATURATED FATS
ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS
C=C double bonds in the fatty acids
Required for growth or mammals and Plant & fish fats
they must be obtained from food. Vegetable oils
Including linoleate, linolenate, Liquid in room temperature
arachidonic acid amount unsaturated in
plant. (we cannot manufacture it in our
body)
FATTY ACIDS COMMONLY FOUND IN
LIPIDS
Sat. Fatty Formula Melting
Acids Point (°C)
Butyric C4H8O2 Liquid
Palmitic C16H22O2 63
Stearic C18H36O2 70
Unsat. Fatty Formula Melting
Acids Point (°C)
Oleic C18H34O2 Liquid
CANOLA
Linoleic C18H32O2 Liquid
Linolenic C18H30O2 Liquid
- CANADIAL-OIL-LOW-ACID
- Oil from Canadian rapeseed
- Has “ideal ratio” of omega-6 to omega-3
fatty acids of 2:1
- Also, very low in saturated fat Can also form a
phospholipid bilayer
OLIVE OIL: Early evolutionary stage
- Deemed to be the most “heart healthy” of cell.
- Highest 1% of monosaturated fatty acids WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
- Extra virgin (1st press)
- Phospholipids create a barrier in water
TRIACYLGLYCEROL Define outside vs. inside
- Main storage form of fatty acids They make cell membrane
- 3 fatty acids linked to glycerol GLYGOLIPIDS
- Ester linkage = between OH & COOH
- As their name implies, are sugar-
Triacyclglycerols are composed of the fatty
containing lipids.
acids each in ester linkage with single glycerol.
- Are widely distributed in every tissue of
FATS STORE ENERGY the body, particularly in nervous tissue
such as brain.
- Long HC chain - The major glycolipids found in animal
Non-polar tissue are glycosphingolipids. They
Hydrophobic contain ceramide and one or more
- Function: sugars.
Energy storage
Concentrated STEROIDS
2x carbohydrates - Structure:
Cushion organs 4 fused C rings
Insulates body Different steroids
Whale blubber created by attaching
ADIPOSE TISSUE: different functional
groups to rings
- Large adipocytes (brown) are filled with Different structure
fat droplets. They are embedded in creates different
collagen matrix. Most cells are close to function.
capillaries (red) Examples: cholesterol, sex
hormones.
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
CHOLESTEROL
- Fatty acid tails = hydrophobic
- PO4 head = hydrophilic - Important cell component
- Split “personality” Animal cell membranes
- Nervous tissue transmission Precursor of all other steroids
PHOSPHOLIPIDS IN WATER: Including vertebrae sex
hormones
- Hydrophilic heads “attracted” to H2O High levels in blood may
- Hydrophobic tails “hide” from H2O contribute to cardiovascular
Can self-assemble into disease.
“bubbles” - It is the most important component of
Bubble = “micelle” cell membrane, wherein it helps keep
cell membranes fluid & flexible.
LIPID DIGESTION/ABSORPTION Chain length of FA’s
(> 18C = ↓digestibility)
Five different phrases:
Degree of saturation of FA’s
I. HYROLYSIS of triglycerides (TG) (↑sat = ↓digestibility)
to free fatty acids (FFA) and Overheating and auto oxidation
monoacylglycerols (one bond of (rancidification)
triglycerides) Optimal dietary calcium = optimal FA
II. SOLUBILIZATION of FFA and absorption (high Ca = ↓absorption)
monoacylglycerols by detergent
(bile acids) (which takes place in
stomach) and transportation from
intestinal lumen toward the cell
surface
III. UPTAKE of FFA and
monoacylglycerols into the cell and
resynthesis to triglycerides.
IV. PACKAGING of TG’s into
chylomicrons.
V. EXOCYTOSIS of chylomicrons
into lymph
ENZYMES INVOLVED IN DIGESTION
OF LIPIDS
LIGUAL LIPASE: provides aa stable
interface with aqueous environment of
stomach.
PANCREATIC LIPASE: major
enzyme affecting triglyceride hydrolysis
COLLIPASE: protein anchoring lipase
to the lipid.
LIPID ESTERASE: secreted by
pancreas, acts on cholesterol esters,
activated by bile.
PHOSPHOLIPASES: cleave
phospholipids, activated by trypsin.
FACTORS AFFECTING ABSORPTION
OF LIPIDS
Amount of fat consume:
(↑fat = ↓digestion = ↓absorption)
Age of subject:
(↑age = ↑digestion)
Emulsifying agents:
(↑digestion = ↑absorption)
