LIPIDS

Definition
• Lipids are organic substances relatively
insoluble in water, soluble in organic solvents
like alcohol, ether.
• Unlike polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic
acids, lipids are not polymers . They are mostly
small molecules.
 Classification of Lipids
• Simple Lipids
• Complex lipids
• Derived Lipids
 Classification
• Simple Lipids
Esters of fatty acids with alcohols(glycerol)
Simple lipids are of 2 types
1. Fats & Oils
2. Waxes
 Fats & Oils(Triacylglycerols)
• Esters of fatty acids with glycerol
 Fats
• Solid at room temperature
• Contain mainly saturated fatty acids and fatty
acids are of long chain .
• They are mainly of animal origin
 Oil
• Oil: Liquid at Room Temperature
• Contain high proportion of unsaturated fatty
acids or short chain fatty acids in triglycerides
• Oils are of plant origin
 Waxes
• They are esters of fatty acids with alcohols
other than glycerol (monohydroxy aliphatic
alcohols ) so have long straight chains of 60-
100 carbon atoms
 Complex Lipids
Esters of fatty acids with alcohol containing
additional groups
• Phospholipids
• Glycolipids
• Lipoproteins
 Derived Lipids
• Derivatives obtained by hydrolysis of simple
lipids and complex lipids
 Functions of Lipids
• Concentrated fuel reserve of body
• They are constituents of membrane structure
and regulate membrane permeability
• They serve as source of fat soluble vitamins
• They are important as cellular metabolic
regulators (steroid hormones)
• Lipids protect internal organs, serve as
insulating materials and give shape and smooth
appearance to body
 Fatty acids
They are carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon
side chain
• Saturated fatty acids
• Unsaturated fatty acids
 Saturated Fatty acids
• Have no double bond
• CH3COOH Acetic acid
• CH3(CH2)COOH Butyric acid
• CH3(CH2)14 COOH Palmitic Acid
• CH3 (CH2)16 COOH Stearic Acid
 Unsaturated fatty acids
• Have double bond
• Have geometrical isomerism
Essential Fatty acids
 Properties of Triacylglycerol
• 1. Hydrolysis:They undergo enzymatic
hydrolysis(lipase) to finally liberate free fatty
acids and glycerol
• Saponification: The hydrolysis of triacyl
glycerol by alkali to produce glycerol and
soaps is known as saponification.
 Rancidity
• It is the deterioration of fats and oils resulting
in an unpleasant taste. It occurs when fats and
oils are exposed to air, moisture, light,
bacteria etc. It is the oxidation of unsaturated
fatty acids which results in the formation of
unpleasant products (epoxides and peroxides).
Vitamin E is added to oils which act as
antioxidant.
 Iodine value of oil
• It is the number of grams of iodine absorbed
by 100 gm of oil. It is a measure of degree of
unsaturation of oil. Groundnut oil is rich in
linoleic acid and its iodine value is 80. Coconut
oil is poor in unsaturated fatty acids, its iodine
value is 8.
Structure and function of Complex lipids
 Phospholipids
• These are complex or compound lipids
containing phosphoric acid, in addition to fatty
acids, nitrogenous base and alcohol
Phosphatidic acid `
• It is an intermediate in the synthesis of
triacylglycerols and phospholipids
Lecithin
• They are most abundant group of
phospholipids in cell membranes
Cephalins
 Functions of Phospholipids
• In association with proteins, phospholipids
form the structural component of membranes
and regulate membrane permeability.
• Phospholipids participate in the absorption of
fat from the intestine.
• Due to their amphipathic nature,
phospholipids can combine with polor and
non –polar compounds in the cell.
• Cephalins are important group of
phospholipids participate in blood clotting.
• Phospholipids are essential components of
bile where they act as detergents and help in
solubilization of cholesterol.
Structure of Cholesterol
Metabolism of Lipids
Oxidation of Fatty acids
 Digestion of Lipids
• Fat in diet: Triglycerides, Cholesterol ester,
cholesterol, phospholipids, free fatty acids
• Digestion in mouth: Lingual lipase acts on
short chain fatty acids present in milk butter
and ghee.
• Stomach: gastric lipase acts at pH 5.4 .
30percent digestion of lipids occurs in
stomach
 Composition of different classes of
Lipoproteins
% Composition Chylomicrons VLDL LDL HDL
Protein 2 10 20 30-60
Triglyceride 78 50 10 10
Phospholoipids 10 20 20 20-30
Cholesterol 10 20 50 10-30
Apolipoproteins Apo B48 Apo B 100 Apo B100 Apo A 1
Apo C Apo C Apo C
Apo E Apo E Apo E
 Function of Chylomicrons
• They are transport form of dietary
triglycerides from intestine to adipose tissue
for storage and to muscle or heart for their
energy needs.
 Functions of VLDL
• It carries endogenous triglycerides from liver
to tissues for energy needs
 Functions of LDL
• LDL transports cholesterol from liver to various
tissues.The liberated cholesterol has three fates
• 1. It is used for synthesis of steroids like steroid
hormones
• Cholesterol may be incorporated into
membranes
• Cholesterol is converted to cholesterol ester by
ACAT, cholesterol ester is stored in the cells
 Cholesterol Synthesis
• Almost all the tissues of the body participate
in cholesterol synthesis. The largest
contribution is made by liver
 Ketone bodies
• Acetone , acetoacetate, and beta –
hydroxybutyrate are known as ketone bodies.
• Ketone bodies are water soluble and energy
yielding
 ketogenesis
• Location: Liver
• Mainly in mitochondrial matrix
• Acetyl CoA formed by oxidation of fatty acids
is the precursor for ketone bodies
 Utilization of Ketone bodies
• Ketone bodies being water soluble are easily
transported from liver to various tissues.
• The two ketone bodies –acetoacetate and
beta –hydroxybutyrate serve as important
sources of energy for peripheral tissues such
as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, renal
cortex.
• The production of ketone bodies and their
utilization become more significant when
glucose is in short supply to the tissues , as
observed in starvation and diabetes mellitus
• During prolonged starvation, ketone bodies
can meet 50-70 % of brain’s energy needs
 Overproduction of ketone bodies
• In normal individuals, there is constant
production of ketone bodies by liver and their
utilization by extrahepatic tissues.
• The concentration of ketone bodies in blood is
maintained around 1mg/dl.
• When rate of synthesis of ketone bodies
exceeds the rate of utilization, their
concentration in blood increases, this is
known as ketonemia
• Ketonuria: Excretion of ketone bodies in urine
The overall picture of ketonemia and
ketonuria is commonly known as ketosis.
• Smell of acetone in breath is a common
feature in ketosis.
• Ketosis is commonly associated with
starvation and severe uncontrolled diabetes
mellitus
Ketonuria and weight loss program
• Some programs designed for body weight loss
encourage reduction in carbohydrate and total
calorie intake until ketone bodies appear in
urine.
 Diabetes mellitus
• Diabetes mellitus is associated with insulin
deficiency. This results in impaired
carbohydrate metabolism and increased
lipolysis, both of the ultimately leading to the
accumulation of acetyl CoA and conversion to
ketone bodies
 Treatment of ketoacidosis
• Administration of insulin is necessary to
stimulate uptake of glucose by tissues and
inhibition of ketogenesis