Fats and lipids, Biology

Assignment Help:

 

  • Composed of C, H and O (fewer polar OH bonds than carbohydrates)
  • Can be used at energy storage, components of cell membranes, chemical signals & thermal insulation
    • Are a more efficient energy source then carbohydrates
  • 4 families à fats (triglycerides), phospholipids, steroids & waxes

Triglycerides

                                                                                                        2331_fats and lipids.png

Triglycerides - An ester of 3 fatty acids + a glycerol molecule
Glycerol - a 3 carbon alcohol with 3 hydroxyl groups
Fatty Acid - a long-chain carboxylic acid

  • Fatty acids can be saturated of unsaturated and usually even numbered (16 or 18)
    • Saturated -> In animals                                                                                                                                                 Long straight chains and can rotate freely on the glycerol backbone

                      Can be packed tightly together à solids

               o  Unsaturated ->in plants

                        Cannot rotate freely and have kinks in their chain (due to 'cis' & 'trans' shapes from the double bond)

                        Cannot be packed closer together à liquids

Phospholipids

  • Glycerol + 2 fatty acids
  • Has hydrophobic tails and a hydrophilic head

Steroids

  • Hydrophobic molecules with 4 fused hydrocarbon rings (e.g. cholesterol, vitamin D, bile salts)

Waxes

  • Lipids containing long chain fatty acids linked to alcohols or carbon rings
  • Hydrophobic

 


Related Discussions:- Fats and lipids

Puberty, how does the hypothalamus begin puberty

how does the hypothalamus begin puberty

Which are the heart chambers, Which are the heart chambers respectively whe...

Which are the heart chambers respectively where the entrance and the exit of blood occur? The heart chambers by which blood enters the heart are the atria. There are the right

Define pasteurization and sterilization - thermal processing, Define Pasteu...

Define Pasteurization and Sterilization - thermal processing? Pasteurization: Pasteurization is a mild heat treatment to kill part of the microorganisms present in food

Interspecific sterility, In interspecific sterility, the failure in mating ...

In interspecific sterility, the failure in mating occurs because of inability of the sperm to reach the egg in animals and the pollen to reach ovules in plants. In plailts interspe

Define left posterior hemiblock, Q. Define Left Posterior Hemiblock? Bo...

Q. Define Left Posterior Hemiblock? Bobbna and associated reported four cases in which they proposed that the left posterior hemi block was initiated by exercise. In their pa

Explain the most probable number (mpn) techniques, Explain the Most Probabl...

Explain the Most Probable Number (MPN) Techniques? Different procedures and media may be used depending on the food tested and the information sought. Media which can be used i

Procaryotes to eucaryotes, PROCARYOTES TO EUCARYOTES Procaryotes are th...

PROCARYOTES TO EUCARYOTES Procaryotes are the simple, unicellular organisms which do not have well defined nucleus, whereas eucaryotes are the complex;multicellular organisms w

Role of nerves - regeneration, Role of Nerves - Regeneration It has b...

Role of Nerves - Regeneration It has been seen that soon after amputation nerves invade the regeneration blastema. If the stump is denervated by cutting the nerves supplying

Define thin layer chromatography, Define Thin Layer Chromatography? Thi...

Define Thin Layer Chromatography? This is an improvement over paper chromatography and uses thin layers of slurried absorbents like silica gel, alumina, cellulose, Kieselguhr,

Fortification to prevention of iron deficiency anaemia, Define Fortificatio...

Define Fortification to prevention of iron deficiency anaemia? Food fortification is one of the alternatives that ensure consumption of the nutrient regularly in daily diet. Fo

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd