Lipids Assignment

Organic Chemistry II
Dr. Morebise
Pre-med IV
Meyof Sabeth
Sunday October 4, 2020.

Eicosanoids
Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are unsaturated carboxylic acids, consisting of a 20-carbon
skeleton that contains a 5-member ring. They are biochemically synthesized from
the fatty acid called arachidonic acid (omega 6, cis-5, cis-8, cis-11, cis-14-
Eicosatetraenoic acid)
They were first isolated from semen and where thought to be produced by the
prostate gland. However, they are present in every cell.
They function in the activation of inflammatory response, production of pain and
fever. They also function in blood clotting mechanism.
Thromboxanes
Thromboxanes are eicosanoids structurally characterized by the presence of a 6-
member ether containing ring. Thus, thromboxane is considered to be an
eicosanoid lipid molecule. There are 2 types, thromboxane A2 and thromboxane
B2
Thromboxane is named for its role in blood clotting, thrombosis. Thromboxane is
a vasoconstrictor and a potent hypertensive agent. It facilitates platelet aggregation.
Leukotrienes
Leukotrienes are a family of eicosanoid inflammatory mediators produced
in leukocytes by the oxidation of arachidonic acid and the essential fatty acid
eicosapentaenoic acid(EPA) by the enzyme arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase.
Leukotrienes act principally on a subfamily of G protein-coupled receptor. They
may also act upon peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors Leukotrienes are
involved in asthmatic and allergic reactions and act to sustain inflammatory
reactions. Several leukotriene receptor antagonists such as Montelukast
and zafirlukast are used to treat asthma.

Bile acids and Bile salts

Bile acids are steroidal acids found in bile. Primary bile acids are steroids
produced in the liver, specifically in peroxisomes. Secondary bile acids are made
by colonic bacteria. Right after being synthesized, bile acids are secreted into bile
and concentrated for storage in the gallbladder. Conjugate bile acids have
hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends enabling them in their function as surfactants.
The hydrophobic portion faces lipids, the hydrophilic portion facing the water,
which allows them to act as bridges at the lipid/water interface, where they can
make micelles when sufficiently concentrated.
Bile salts are made of bile acids conjugated with glycine or taurine. They are
produced in the liver directly from cholesterol and aid in the solubilization of
dietary fats in the watery small intestine.

Ketone bodies
Ketone bodies are substances produced by the liver during gluconeogenesis (a
process that creates glucose in times of fasting and starvation). There are three
ketone bodies produced by the liver. They are acetoacetate, beta-
hydroxybutyrate, and acetone. These compounds are used in healthy individuals
to provide energy to the cells of the body when glucose is low or absent in the
diet.

The brain prefers glucose as source of energy but in case of starvation, energy
sources switch to ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are water soluble. Beta-
hydroxybutyric acid is not a true ketone.