LIPIDS

DEFINITION

● Lipids are biomolecules that are soluble in organic solvents

and insoluble in water.
● They contain many nonpolar C—C and C—H bonds and few
polar bonds resulting in their water insolubility.
● Esters of fatty acid

FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS

● Energy storage
● Structural components of biomembranes ● Waxes
● Metabolic regulators ○ they are esters of fatty acids with higher
● Provide insulation against changes in external temperatures monohydroxy aliphatic alcohol
● Give shape and contour in the body
● Help in absorption of Vitamin A,D,E,K

CLASSIFICATION OF LIPIDS

SIMPLE

● they are esters of fatty acids with various alcohols

● Triacylglycerols/Triglycerides
○ are triesters from glycerols and three molecules of COMPOUND
fatty acid ● esters of fatty acid containing groups in addition to an
alcohol and fatty acid
● Phospholipids
○ lipids that contain a phosphorus atom

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 ● Glycolipids (Glycosphingolipids)
○ lipids containing fatty acids, sphingosine, fatty acid
and carbohydrate
● Eicosanoids
● LIpoproteins
○ signaling lipids derived from arachidonic acid
○ Lipids + Proteins
metabolism that have important roles in
○ Carrier proteins that transports cholesterol from
physiological and pathological processes
the lover where it is synthesized, to the tissues
○ Classified based on their density
○ CLASSIFICATION OF LIPOPROTEINS:
■ High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the
“good cholesterol.” It carries cholesterol
back to your liver to be flushed out of
your body. High levels of HDL reduce
your risk of cardiovascular (heart)
disease.
■ Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the “bad
cholesterol.” It increases your risk of
coronary artery disease, heart attacks,
and strokes. LDL carries cholesterol that
accumulates as plaque inside blood
vessels. Plaque buildup can make blood
vessels too narrow for blood to flow
freely. This condition is atherosclerosis.
■ Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are
another type of “bad cholesterol.” VLDLs
carry triglycerides and to a less degree,
cholesterol, to your tissues.
■ Intermediate-density lipoproteins (IDL)
are created as VLDLs give up their fatty
acids. They are then either removed by
the liver or converted into LDL.
■ Chylomicrons are very large particles
that also transport triglycerides

DERIVED

● obtained by hydrolysis of simple/compound lipids

● Fatty Acid
○ Are aliphatic carboxylic acids
○ Have general formula of R-(CH2)n-(COOH)
○ Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds in
their hydrocarbon chains
○ Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double
bonds in their long hydrocarbon chains. Generally,
double bonds in naturally occurring fatty acids are
cis
● Steroids
○ identifiable by their structure of four fused rings

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