BIO-MOLECULES CATEGORIZED AS CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEINS, LIPIDS

AND NUCLEIC ACIDS

LIPIDS
- includes fats, oils, some vitamins, and hormones.
- simply as that fraction of any biological material soluble in, and extractable by solvents of low
polarity
- they are widespread in nature constituting a very important group of organic substances in
plant and animal tissue.
- lipids function primarily as an energy
- provide long-term storage of energy in humans
- they also provide storing of fat-soluble vitamins.
- form the backbone of hormones and cell membranes.
- they are important in biological system because they form the cell membrane, a mechanical
barrier that divides a cell from the external environment.

CLASSIFICATION OF LIPIDS
 SAPONIFIABLE LIPIDS- break into simple lipids and compound lipids in the presence of a
base
 NONSAPONIFIABLE LIPIDS- do not

 Saponification triglyceride is actually the reaction of triglycerides when they are turned into soap.

 Soap is produced when triglycerides react with a base like sodium. In technical terms,
saponification involves base that is hydrolysis of triglycerides, which are esters of fatty acids, to
form the sodium salt of a carboxylate. In addition to soap, such traditional saponification processes
produce glycerol.

 "Saponifiable substances’’ are those that can be converted into soap. Depending on the nature of
the alkali used in their production. soaps have distinct properties. Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) gives
"hard soap, whereas, when potassium hydroxide (KOH) is used, a soft soap is formed.

 Triglyceride- also known as ‘’fats’’

SAPONIFIABLE LIPIDS
Simple lipids
 Source: waxes and neutral fats
 Examples: beeswax, lanolin, carnauba butter, lard, tallow
Compound lipids
 Sources: phospholipids and glycolipids
 Examples:
phospholipids - lecithin, brain and nervous tissues
glycolipids- Brain and nerve cells

NONSAPONIFIABLE LIPIDS
Steriods
 Sources: sterol and Hormones
 Examples:
sterol - cholesterol
hormones- Progesterone and estrogen (hormones that responsible for menstrual flow or
period.)
 Neutral fats and waxes yield fatty acids and alcohol.
 Phospholipids and glycolipids also produce fatty acids, alcohol, and other compounds such
as choline, phosphates or sugar.
 Importance of lipids
 As a source of energy
 An essential component of cellular structures especially cell membranes
Characteristics of Lipids
 They are insoluble in water but soluble in one or more solvents of low polarity (organic fat
solvents) ester, benzene, alcohol
 They are esters of fatty acids or are capable of forming such esters.
 They are utilizable by the living organisms
 They are considered unsaturated because there is no double bond but they can be
saturated when they have fatty acids (monounsaturated or polyunsaturated)
4 COMMON LIPIDS:
1. fats
2. waxes
3. phospholipids
4. steroids

A. SIMPLE LIPIDS - esters of fatty acids with various alcohols.

1. Neutral fats and oils - tricylglycerol (triglycerides) they are trimesters of fatty acids with glycerol.
 TRIGLYCERIDES are esters of glycerol and three fatty acids. They are the fat reserves
in plants and in the fat cells of animals.

2. B-Waxes
 Waxes are solid simple lipids containing a monohydric alcohol (with a higher molecular
weight than glycerol) esterified to long chain fatty acids.
 Examples of these alcohols are palmitoyl alcohol, cholesterol, vitamin A or D.
Properties of waxes:
 Waxes are insoluble in water, but soluble in fat solvents and are negative for acrolein test.
 Waxes are not easily hydrolyzed as the fats and are indigestible by lipases and are very
resistant to rancidity.
 Thus they are of no nutritional value.

B. COMPOUND LIPIDS- esters of fatty acids with alcohol plus other groups.

1. Phospholipids- lipids containing phosphoric acid and in most cases, a nitrogenous base.
2. Glycolipids or cerebrosides - lipids containing a carbohydrate and also nitrogen but no
phosphate and no glycerol.
3. Sulfolipids -lipids characterized by possessing sulfate groups
4. Lipoproteins-lipids attached to plasma protein or other proteins.
5. Lipopolysaccharides- lipids attached to polysaccharides.

C. DERIVED LIPIDS- derivatives obtained by (chemical reactions) hydrolysis of those given in groups
A and B that still possess general physical characteristics of lipids.

1. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives e.g. the prostaglandins
2. Monoglycerides and diglycerides
3. Alcohols

3.1. straight-chain alcohols-water-insoluble alcohols of higher molecular weight obtained on

hydrolysis of waxes.
3.2. sterols and other steroids, including vitamin D
3.3. Alcohols containing beta-ionone ring (vitamin A certain
carotenoids)

D. MISCELLANEOUS LIPIDS

1. Aliphatic hydrocarbons - include iso-octadecane found in liver fat and certain hydrocarbons
found in beeswax and plant waxes.
2. Carotenoids, squalence and other terpenes
3. Vitamins E and K
FATTY ACIDS
- Is a molecule characterized by the presence of a carboxyl group attached to a long
hydrocarbon chain.
- Are acids produced when fats are broken down
- They are considered good fats
- These acids are not highly soluble in water and they can be used for energy by most types
of cells
- They may be monounsaturated, polyunsaturated or saturated
- Are found in oils and other fats
- Help move oxygen through the bloodstream to all parts of the body.
- They aid cell membrane development, strength, and function
- They are necessary for strong organs and tissues
- Can also help keep skin healthy
- Help prevent early aging
- Promote weight loss by helping the body process cholesterol
- They help rid the arteries of cholesterol build up
- They also assists adrenal and thyroids glands, which may also help regulate
weight.

MOST COMMON FATTY ACIDS

SATURATED Molecular Formula Structure
Butyric acid (C4H8O2) CH3(CH2)2 COOH
Myristic acid (C14H28O2) CH3(CH2)12COOH
Palmitic acid (C16H32O2) CH3(CH12)14COOH
Stearic acid (C18H3602) CH3(CH2)16COOH

UNSATURATE Molecular
Structure
D Formula
Oleic acid (C18H34O2) CH3(CH2)7CH-CH(CH2)7COOH
CH3(CH2)4CH=CHCH2CH=CH(CH2)
Linoleic acid (C18H32O2)
7COOH
CH3(CH2)OH-CHCH2CH=CHCH2=
Linolenic acid (C18H30O2)
CH(CH2)COOH
Arachidonic CH3(CH2)4CH=CH-CH=CH-CH2-
(C20H32O2)
acid CH-CH-CH=CH-(CH2)3COOH

Saturated fatty acids

 Does not have any double bonds
 Are solids at room temperature
 Animal fats are a source of saturated fatty acids
MOST COMMON SATURATED FATTY ACIDS
 Palmitic Acid
 Stearic Acid

Unsaturated fatty acids

 can have one or more double bonds along its hydrocarbon chain
 Fatty acid with one double bond is called monounsaturated
 two or more double bonds are called polyunsaturated.
MOST COMMON MONOUNUSATURATED FATTY ACID
1. Palmitoleic Acid
2. Oleic Acid- most abundant unsaturated fatty acid in nature

Lipoproteins- Clusters of lipids associated with proteins that serve as transport vehicles for
lipids in the lymph and blood.
CLASSIFICATION OF LIPOPROTEIN
1. LDL (low density lipoprotein)
- highest in cholesteryl esters as % of weight)
- bad cholesterol
- produced by the Liver

2. HDL (high density lipoprotein)

- highest in density due to high protein/lipid ratio).
- good cholesterol
- produced in the Liver and small intestine.

3. Chylomicron (largest)
- lowest in density due to high lipid/protein ratio; highest in triacylglycerols as % of weight).
- Made by small intestine
- absorb in to the blood through vessels in the lymphatic system.

4. VLDL (very low density lipoprotein)

- 2nd highest in triacylglycerols as % of weight
- made by Liver

5. IDL (intermediate density lipoprotein).