Monomer of Lipids

All the living organisms are made of basic units are called cells. There are many chemical compounds which
are involved in biochemical activities of living cells. These chemical compounds or macromolecules which take
part in biochemical reactions of living cells are known as biomolecules. Lipids are a common example of
biomolecules.

Building Block Monomer of Lipids

Lipids are not a single compound but a range of different compounds such as fats, oils and phospholipids.
These compounds are hydrophobic in nature (water hating compounds). Triacylglycerols which are also known
as fats and oils are basically composed of two types of molecules; glycerol and fatty acid. One molecule of
glycerol and three molecules of fatty acids form tri-acylglycerol.
Monomer of Lipids Function

There are two major functions of fats and oils. One is to store energy and another is to insulate the body.
They can produce twice as many calories when burned. They also insulate the body and nerves. The myelin
sheath over nerves is a lipid-rich layer.

Phospholipids are amphipathic in nature means they are both water-loving and water-hating parts in a
molecule. These types of lipids form bilayers which shield the tail from water and forms membranes which are
called as phospholipid bilayers. Cholesterol helps to maintain membrane fluidity and pliability.

Monomer Structure of Lipids

Fatty acids and glycerol are main monomers of lipids. Fatty acids are long chain carboxylic acids. The long
hydrocarbon chain makes fatty acid different from other carboxylic acids. Since hydrocarbon chain is non-polar
whereas carboxyl group is polar in nature therefore fatty acids have two opposite ends.
The carboxyl group of fatty acid is bonded with glycerol through dehydration reaction and form an ester linkage.
These carboxylic acids can be saturated or unsaturated which depends on the presence of multiple covalent
bonds in the molecules.
The degree of saturation of fatty acid affects the structure and function of lipid. Even the geometry of fatty acids
also alters the properties of lipids.
How are the Monomer of Lipids Arranged?

See the structure of triglyceride. One molecule of glycerol form ester linkage with three molecules of fatty acids.
The bonding takes place between the –OH (hydroxyl) groups of glycerol and –COOH (carboxyl ) group of fatty
acid. The reaction furnishes with the elimination of three molecules of water.