Lipids

By: Anam Tariq

Lecturer
SCN
October 21st, 2020
 Lipids
“Organic compound made up of fatty acids, alcohols
and may contain other compounds’’.
The word lipid is derived from a Greek word “lipos”
which means fat.
They serve as a storage form of metabolic fuel. (fatty
acid, Triacylglycerol), and as a transport form of
metabolic fuel (free fatty acid, triglyceride and
cholesterol ester).
 They provide the structural components of
membranes(phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids)
 Simple lipids
 Have 3 carbons and 3OH
group.
 TAGs are esters of fatty acid
with glycerol.
 Number of OH of glycerol
classify acyl glycerol into
mono, di and triacylglycerol.
 TAG are major storage and
transport form of lipids.
 Mixed TAGs are TAGs with
different fatty acids.
 Physical Properties of TAGs
TAGs can be liquid or non crystalline solids at room
temperature.
Liquid at room temperature are Oils.
Soild at room temperature are fats.
Fats and oil are colorless, odorless and tasteless.
How do you know if the oil/fat is impure?
Appearance of color, taste or smell in fats and oil is due to the
presence of impurities.
Yellow color of fat is due to carotene ( unsaturated
hydrocarbon, only synthesize by plants).
Taste of butter is due to diacetyl and 3-hydroxy-2-butanone.
Rancidity

“Complete or incomplete oxidation or

hydrolysis of fat and oil when exposed to air,
light, moisture.”
Oxygen is added on double bond forming
peroxides and when they goes under cleavage
produce bad smell.
Pathways are:
 Microbial
 Microorganisms use enzymes such as lipases
to break down fat.
 water dependent
 Oxidative: double bonds of unsaturated fatty
acid split by free-radical.
 sunlight
 Hydrolytic: lipids breakdown into free fatty
acids and glycerol.
 Catalyst
 Waxes
Esters of fatty acids with alcohol (monohydroxy
alcohol).
Commonly known as lubricants.
Have high melting points.
Lipase doesn't effect them.
Lanolin (wood wax)
Spermaceti (candles)
 Functions of waxes
Serve as protective chemical coating.
Act as water repellent.
Prevent moisture loss and infection.
Use in manufacture of candles, ointments and cream.
 Compound lipids
Contain other substances in addition to fatty
acid and alcohol.
Examples are:
1. Phospholipids
2. Glycolipids
3. Gangliosides
4. Sulfolipids
5. Lipoprotein
6. Lipopolysaccharides
 Phospholipids
Heterogeneous group of
compound.
Contain phosphate in
addition to F.A & alcohol.
Found in every living
organism.
Brain contain about 35%
tissues rich in
phospholipids.
Play important role in
metabolic pathways.
 Phospholipids

Glycerophospholi Sphingophospholip
pids ids

Phosphatidic acid

Lecithins

Cephalins

Plasmalogens
 (i) Glycerophospholipids
Also known as phosphoglycerides.
Component of lung surfactants.
Helps in signal transmission.
Act as an emulsifying agent.
consist of a glycerol backbone
 two fatty acids
 Phosphorylated alcohol.
 Phosphatidic acid
Smallest and simplest
compound.
Compound is anion with
negative charge.
Fatty acid is replaced by
H3PO4-.
Act as a second messenger.
Help in transfer of lipids
across membrane of plant
cell.
 Lecithins
 Derived from
Phosphatidic acid by
etherifying one –OH
group of phosphoric acid
with choline.
 Usually exist in Zwitter
ion form.
 Isoelectric pH is 6.7
 Solid waxy substances
which can turned down
due to auto-oxidation.
 Hygroscopic in nature.
Do not have definite M.P.
Good emulsifying agent.
Soluble in fat solvents.
 Cephalins
Difficult to isolate.
Resembles Lecithins in
physical properties.
Different base.
High concentration is
present in brain.
Helps in blood clotting.
More unsaturated than
lecithin.
 Plasmalogens
Found in brain and muscle.
Responsible for pulmonary
edema.
Resemble with lecithins and
cephalins .
Mediate acute inflammatory
reaction.
Cause release of radicals by
neutrophils and macrophages.
 (ii) SPHINGOPHOSPHOLIPID
Unsaturated nitrogen containing
18 carbon alcohol.
Contain sphingosine as alcohol.
Present in large amount in brain
and nerve tissues.
Smaller amount in blood and
other tissues.