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

Animals, explain the modes of nurition in animals

explain the modes of nurition in animals

Explain the microscope, Explain the Microscope? Microscope is a powerfu...

Explain the Microscope? Microscope is a powerful and crucial basic tool in the field of microbiology. Microbiology, as we have already studied in our theory Course, is the scie

Define oxidised starch, Oxidised starch Oxidised starch finds a number ...

Oxidised starch Oxidised starch finds a number of uses in the food industry where a neutral tasting, low viscosity 'body builder' is required as in lemon curd manufacture, in s

What kind of exoskeleton do some molluscs present, Q. What kind of exoskele...

Q. What kind of exoskeleton do some molluscs present? Some molluscs, like gastropods and bivalves secrete an external calcareous carapace (the shell). Calcium carbonate is a fo

How to estimate the ovulation day, Q. How is the ovulation date estimated w...

Q. How is the ovulation date estimated with the control of the woman's body temperature? One method to estimate the exact ovulation day is daily control of the body temperature

Determine the term - essential element, Determine the term - essential elem...

Determine the term - essential element It becomes difficult to meet all the conditions so as to establish essentiality. This is particularly so for the elements that are requir

Define interaction of vitamin c with pyridoxine, Define interaction of vita...

Define interaction of vitamin c with Pyridoxine? Pyridoxine is involved in glyconeogenesis through its action in transaminase reactions. Low levels of pyridoxine impair glucose

DNA replication, What is cDNA and what is its function and mechanism of act...

What is cDNA and what is its function and mechanism of action?

Chlorophyll, Chlorophyll is the pigment in the green plants which absorbs ...

Chlorophyll is the pigment in the green plants which absorbs solar energy.   chlorophyll a -  It is a green photosynthetic pigment common to all the photosynthetic organisms.

Functional significance of this structural difference, The vertebral bodies...

The vertebral bodies are much larger in the lower back than the neck. What is the functional significance of this structural difference?

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