University of San Agustin

General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines

www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

MODULE 9
LIPIDS

Overview:
In this module, we will cover concepts on one of the major biomolecules and its
importance to the human body. The topics of this module includes introduction to
the general properties of lipids, the different functions and classification of lipids,
and the lipid derivatives and its applications.

Topics to be covered:
1. Properties of Lipids 2. Lipid Derivatives
3. Classification of Lipids

Learning Outcomes:
1. Name the lipid
2. Compare the properties of two lipids
3. Classify the lipids based on its structure
4. Identify important lipids and its function

Learning Plan:
1. Properties of Lipids : asynchronous, online activity
2. Classification of Lipids: synchronous and asynchronous, Google Meet (70mins)
forum discussion, online activity
3. Lipid Derivatives: synchronous and asynchronous, Google Meet (20mins) forum
discussion via Google classroom, online activity

Lipids

Lipids are a class of biological molecules defined by low solubility in water and high
solubility in nonpolar solvents. As molecules that are largely hydrocarbon in nature,
lipids represent highly reduced forms of carbon and, upon oxidation in metabolism,
yield large amounts of energy. Lipids are thus the molecules of choice for metabolic
energy storage.4

Biological Functions of Lipids

 Storage  Cofactors
 Membrane components  Pigments
 Messengers

Classification of Lipids
[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

1 Triglycerides

Also known as triacylglycerols, triglycerides are a major energy reserve and the
principal neutral derivatives of glycerol found in animals. A significant number of
the fatty acids in plants and animals exist in this form. They are triesters of
glycerol and long-chain carboxylic acids called fatty acids. Esters are formed from
alcohol and carboxylic acids. The alcohol part in these compounds is glycerol. 1

Fatty acids are the carboxylic acid component of triglycerides. They are unbranched
hydrocarbon chains ranging from 4 to 36 carbons long (C 4 to C36), usually in even
numbers. They are either saturated (only single bonds) or unsaturated (contains 1
or more double bonds).1

Table 1 shows the common name, systematic name, symbol and condensed
structure of common biological fatty acids1

Homework: (1) Why are there only even-numbered fatty acids found and no odd-
numbered? (2) What are the two essential fatty acids and their function? (3) Explain
why the “Saturated fat is bad” is a myth.

Nomenclature of Fatty Acids

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Figure 1. Two conventions of naming fatty acids. 2

Standard nomenclature assigns the number 1 to the carboxyl carbon (C-1), and α to
the carbon next to it (Figure 1a). The position of any double bond(s) is indicated by
Δ followed by a superscript number indicating the lower numbered carbon in the
double bond. For polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), an alternative convention
numbers the carbons in the opposite direction, assigning the number 1 to the
methyl carbon at the other end of the chain (Figure 1b); this carbon is also
designated ω (omega; the last letter in the Greek alphabet). The positions of the
double bonds are indicated relative to the ω carbon. 2

Tip:
(1) Count the number of carbons from the carboxyl head
(2) Count the number of double bonds present
(3) Identify the carbon number at which the double bond is located

Example: Give the symbol of this unsaturated fatty acid

symbol: 24:1(15) or 24:1 Δ15 (15) or Δ15 indicates the position of the double bond
omega name: ω ―9 fatty acid
Supplemental video by Catalyst University:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUpFoq24QdY

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Properties of Triglycerides

Majority of the properties of triglycerides will largely depend on the fatty acids it is
comprised of. If it is composed of unsaturated fatty acids, these fats will have a
lower melting point and boiling point (cis-double bonds increase packing coefficient,
weaker London forces). Saturated fatty acids do not possess any cis-double bonds
therefore these fatty acids have stronger London forces. 1

Figure 2. Saturated and Unsaturated Fatty acid 2

Catalytic hydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids will produce more saturated

triglycerides. Triglycerides may be hydrolyzed in the process called saponification.
Alkaline hydrolysis of these triglycerides will produce glycerol and salts of fatty
acids called soap. 1

Figure 3. Process of saponification. 1

Homework: What are the simplest fatty acid esters called? What are their common
uses and why?

Supplemental online resources by Khan Academy:

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/macromolecules#lipids

2. Phospholipids

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Phospholipids contain alcohol, fatty acid, and a phosphate group. There are two
types: glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids. In glycerophospholipids, the alcohol
is glycerol. In sphingophospholipids, the alcohol is sphingosine.
Glycerophospholipids (also known as phosphoglycerides) may be ether-linked.
Examples are plasmalogens and platelet-activating factors. Galactolipids are
predominantly found in plant membranes. A common example of
sphingophospholipids is sphingomyelin found in nerve cells.2

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Figure 4. Examples of Phospholipids2

3 Glycolipids
A fatty acid bound to a carbohydrate via glycosidic linkage is called a glycolipid.
Glycolipids usually exist as sphingoglycolipids, where a carbohydrate is linked to a
ceramide (fatty acid + sphingosine). 3 H antigen, responsible for the blood type O, is
the precursor for the A and B antigens. 2

Figure 5. Examples of sphingoglycolipids are the blood group antigens. All blood
group antigens possess the same components. For Antigens A & B, there is an extra
saccharine unit. For Antigen A: N-acetylgalactosamine and Antigen B: Galactose. 2

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Homework: Can the Bombay blood group receive or donate blood? How and why?
Which blood group can donate or receive blood to or from Bombay blood group?

Figure 6. Summary of common membrane and storage lipids. 2

4 Lipoproteins

Lipoproteins, as the name suggests, are spherically shaped clusters of lipids and
proteins. These substances function as transporters of cholesterol. 1

Figure 7. Structure of a lipoprotein. (Biorender)

Four types of lipoproteins 1:

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

 High-density lipoprotein (HDL) (“good cholesterol”), which consists of about

33% protein and about 30% cholesterol
 Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (“bad cholesterol”), which contains only 25%
protein but 50% cholesterol
 Very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), which mostly carries triglycerides (fats)
synthesized by the liver
 Chylomicrons, which carry dietary lipids synthesized in the intestines

Homework: Explain why HDL is called the good cholesterol and LDL the bad
cholesterol.

Supplemental video by Catalyst University:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_uiXqVBqeQ&list=PLtY1wJId77gLF5OMU_B
6MJUzSNwfM4F_t&index=10
Steroids and lipid derivatives

Steroids are a class of lipids that share the same basic structure of gonane molecule.

Figure 8. Gonane is the basic ring structure for steroids

1 Cholesterol
The most abundant steroid in the human body is cholesterol that is transported by
lipoproteins. 1

Figure 9. Structure of cholesterol molecule

It serves as a plasma membrane component in animal cells and a raw material for
the synthesis of other steroids, such as the sex and adrenocorticoid hormones.1

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Supplemental video by Catalyst University:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbuc0WoeDI8&list=PLtY1wJId77gLF5OMU_B
6MJUzSNwfM4F_t&index=2&t=0s

2 Steroid hormones

Figure 10. Biosynthesis of steroid hormones from progesterone 1

Sex hormones: testosterone – male sex hormone, estradiol – regulates menstrual

cycle in women.1

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Adrenocorticoid hormones: cortisol and cortisones – anti-inflammatory effects,

aldosterone – regulate concentration of Na+ and K+ ions. 1

3 Bile Salts

The salts of bile acids (cholic and deoxycholic acid) are detergent molecules secreted
in bile from the gallbladder that assist in the absorption of dietary lipids in the
intestine. They solubilize lipids in food aiding digestion. 2

Figure 11. Bile acids

Cholic acids and chenodeoxycholic acids are the primary bile acids found in the
liver. It is bio-transformed into secondary bile acids such as deoxycholic acids and
litocholic acids by the intestinal microbiota. In the enterohepatic circulation, the
fate of bile salts may either be eliminated through fecal waste or reabsorbed (about
95%) into the liver for recycling.

4 Eicosanoids

Eicosanoids are hormone-like compounds derived from Arachidonic acid. They are
short-lived, act locally and is secreted by tissues and not by glands. 2 Arachidonic
acid is found in mammals only and can be synthesized from linoleic acid. 4

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Figure 12. Common examples of eicosanoids 2

Figure 13. Arachidonic Acid Metabolism. 5

Supplemental video from Medicosis perfectionalis:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnz841lGa7Q

Prostaglandins – cause smooth muscle contraction in uterus during menstruation,

elevate body temperature and causes inflammation and pain 2

Thromboxanes – involved in platelet aggregation (blood clotting)

Leukotrienes – this eicosanoid is found in leukocyctes and is commonly encountered

in respiratory inflammatory responses such as asthma. 3

Homework: How do non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) act as pain

relievers? Aspirin and celecoxib are both NSAIDs for pain. How do they differ in
mechanism of action? How do steroids differ from NSAIDs?

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Online Activity and Games

Lipids
https://matchthememory.com/lipids
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf339j6/articles/zkhdqhv
https://www.softschools.com/quizzes/chemistry/lipids/quiz6036.html

Eicosanoids (tip: study figure 13): https://www.purposegames.com/game/eicosanoids-

arachidonic-acid-pathway-game

Assessment Tasks:
1. Screen-capture the whole screen when taking the online activities. To
minimize cheating, I will take note of the time and date from the screen-
capture photo you sent and the time it took you to finish the activity. Submit
before the date of deadline.

2. Homework should be submitted within the day of the synchronous session.

3. Online quiz will be scheduled

References
1 Bettelheim, et. al. (2013). Introduction to General, Organic, and
Biochemistry, 10th edition. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning

2 Nelson, D. and Cox, M. (2008). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry, 5th

edition. W. H. Freeman and Company

3 Campbell, M. and Farrell, S. (2012). Biochemistry, 7th ed. Brooks/Cole,

Cengage Learning

4 Garrett, R. and Grisham, C. (2010). Biochemistry, 4th ed. Brooks/Cole,

Cengage Learning

5 Nagata M. (2009) Immune-mediated Glomerular Injury. In: Avner E.,

Harmon W., Niaudet P., Yoshikawa N. (eds) Pediatric Nephrology. Springer,
Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-76341-3_29

6 Khan Academy. (2020). Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/macromolecules#lipids

Survey Form
Download the Survey Form template from our class at Neo. Use the template to
evaluate this module’s session. Save the document as .doc file with a filename

[Type text]
 University of San Agustin
General Luna St., Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
www.usa.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS, SCIENCES, AND EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS

Yourclasssection_Chem7 evaluation (ex. BSN1-A_Chem1 evaluation) and submit at

the Neo LMS assignment drop box labelled Module No. ## survey form.

[Type text]