Lipids

• Composed of C, H, O
• Non Polar
• Hydrophilic
• Building Blocks: Fatty acid
• Chemical bond that connects the
monomers: Ester Bonds

2
 Lipids
• Divided into:
• Fatty acids and their derivatives
• Triacylglycerols
• Wax Esters
• Phospholipids (Phosphoglycerides and
sphingomyelin)

3
 Fatty acids
• composed of a long hydrocarbon chain
(“tail”) and a terminal carboxyl group (or
“head”).
 Fatty acids
• Can be saturated or unsaturated
 Unsaturated
• Have some carbon
atoms that are
double bonded(not
fully hydrogenated)
• Kinked in shape
• Healthy
• Plant sources
• Liquid at room
temperature (20°C)
 Saturated
• Have no double bonds
between carbon
atoms(have maximum
number of hydrogen
• Straight structure
• Unhealthy fats
• From animal sources
• Solid at room
temperature(20°C)
 Unsaturated Saturated
• Have some carbon • have no double bonds
atoms that aredouble between carbon
bonded(not fully atoms(have maximum
hydrogenated) number of hydrogen
• Kinked in shape • Straight structure
• Healthy • Unhealthy fats
• From plant sources • usually from animal
sources
• Liquid at room • Solid at room
temperature (20°C) temperature(20°C)
 Triacylglycerols
• are a major
energy reserve
• principal neutral
derivatives of
glycerol found in
animals.
• Composed of
glycerol esterified
with three fatty
acids.
 Triacylglycerols
• in animals are
found primarily
in the adipose
• tissue (body fat),
which serves as
a depot or
storage site for
lipids.
 Applications: Soap Making

Hydrolysis with alkali is called saponification

and yields salts of free fatty acids and
glycerol. This is how soap (a metal salt of an
acid derived from fat) was made by our
ancestors.
 Biological Role – Energy storage

• Used to store energy (approx 36kj/gram)

Mitochondrion
Fat cell
(false color TEM)

Lipids are often stored in special

adipose tissue, within large fat cells

Lipids are concentrated sources of energy and can be

broken down (through fatty acid oxidation in the
mitochondria) to provide fuel for aerobic respiration
 Importance; Biological Role
• acts as a shock absorber good
insulator
and

The white fat tissue (arrows)is

visible in this ox kidney

Fat absorbs shocks.

Organs that are prone to
bumps and shocks (e.g. Stored lipids provide insulation
kidneys) are cushioned with in extreme environments.
a relatively thick layer of fat. Increased body fat levels in
winter reduce heat losses to the
environment.
Biological molecules 60
 Waxes
• Esters of long-chain alcohols with long-chain fatty
acids.
• Has a weakly polar head group and a long,
nonpolar tail (the hydrocarbon chains).
• Fatty acids found in waxes are usually saturated.
• Repels water
What are the possible
applications of waxes?
Give an example.
 Biological Applications / Uses
• The glossy surface
of a polished apple
results from a wax
coating.
 Importance; Biological Role

• Water proofing of some

surfaces

• Transmission of
chemical messages
Waxes and oils, when
via hormones secreted on to surfaces
provide waterproofing in
plants and animals.
Biological molecules 61
Why is a “sperm whale” called
a sperm whale?
 Phospholipid
• Amphipathic - which
means they possess
both polar and nonpolar
groups.
• Essential components
of cell membranes and
are found in small
concentrations in other
parts of the cell.
 Importance; Biological Role

• An important structural component of membranes

Phospholipids are the primary structural component

of all cellular membranes, such as the plasma
membrane (false color TEM above). Biological molecules 59
Other information related to lipids
 Lipoprotein
• A complex lipid
• Responsible for transporting fat molecules,
such within the extracellular water of the
body to all the cells and tissues of the body.
• Types of Lipoprotein:
• High Density Lipoprotein
• Low Density Lipoprotein