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CH – O – CO – C15H31 CH - O – CO – C17H35
CH – O – CO – C17H33 CH – O – CO – C17H33
B. Phosphoglycerides or Phospholipids
They are found in cells of both plants and animals. In the body, they play
an important role in the transport of fats to the different tissues and
appear to be involved in its utilization.
Characteristics:
1. They are the most polar of all lipids and are amphipathic.
2. They are amphoteric, bearing both negatively charged and positively
charged groups.
3. Phospholipids are major constituents of cellular membranes. They
comprise about 40% of the lipids in the erythrocytes membrane. About
20% of the lipids of the inner mitochondrial membrane are cardiolipin.
4. Phosphoglycerides are also referred to as phosphatid. Not all
phosphorous containing lipids are phosphoglycerides like sphingomyelin.
5. Phospholipids that are found in biological membranes are:
a. Lecithin – phosphatidic acid with choline as nitrogenous base
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O CH-O-C-R1
R2-C-O-CH O
CH2-O-P-O-X
O-
C. Cardiolipin
It consists of 2 molecules of phosphatidic acid connected by a glycerol
bridge; it is of immunological importance.
Structure: CH
CH2 – C – CH2
O H O
O = P-O O=P-O
O- O-
D. Plasmalogens
They make up 10% of phospholipids of the brain and muscles. They are
phospholipids where alkyl ether is attached at alpha position of glycerol.
Structure:
CH2- O – CH – CH- R
O
CH – O – C – R
CH2 – O – P – O – (CH2-CH2-NH3)
A. SPHINGOLIPIDS
C. TERPENES
Terpenes and steroids are two major classes of nonsaponifiable lipids.
Terpenes are polymers of isoprene units (C5). Vitamins A, E and K which are lipid
soluble, belong to this class of lipids, as well as alcohol phosphates that function
in glycoprotein synthesis. Cholesterol and vitamin D are derived from terpene.
CH3
D. STEROIDS
Steroid nucleus
Characteristic features;
a. They have some structural resemblance to terpenes, and they
contain the cyclopentanperhyrophenanthrene ring.
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Cholesterol
1. The most abundant representative of sterol in animal tissue. It is
particularly abundant in the brain, nerve tissue and glandular
tissue.
2. Presence of beta OH at C3 , double bond at5,6 position mostly
unsaturated fatty acids, 2/3’s are free alcohol.
3. Melts at 150o , insoluble in water but can be extracted from
organic solvents.
4. Occurs in plasma membrane and lipoprotein of blood.
5. Precursor of many steroids in animal tissues including bile acids,
androgen, estrogen, and adrenocortical hormones.
6. The chief component of gall stones.
7. Its normal value in the blood is 200 mg/100 ml of blood.
B. Bile Acids
Bile salts are steroids in nature. Four different salts occur in human bile.
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C. Adrenocortical Hormones
1. Isolated from the adrenal cortex (derived from cholesterol)
2. Conjugated double bond at C atom 3 and 4, the so called unsaturated
ketone and hydroxysubstituent at position 11.
3. The parent compound is corticosterone; physically active modification
of the molecule is 17-hydrocorticosterone (cortisol)
4. Aldosterone is a hormone which plays an important role in water and
electrolyte metabolism
Corticosterone Cortisol Aldosterone (C12 )
Testosterone
C19 steroid
E. Vitamin D
Conversion of a steroid in the skin to Vit. D is done by irradiation by
ultraviolet light.
Structure of Vitamin D3
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Functions of Vitamin D:
1. It is required for the proper deposition of calcium phosphate in bone.
2. It aids in supersaturating fluids with calcium phosphates by inducing a
calcium transport system in the intestines and mobilizing old or deep
bone.
3. Increased reabsorption of phosphate by the kidney tubule and
increased phosphatase activity.
F. Other Steroids
1. Digitoxigenin – it is a cardiac stimulating glycoside
2. Ecdysone – is an insect steroid hormone that influences molting and
metamorphosis.
3. Methylcholanthrene – is an aromatic compound similar to steroid and a
potent carcinogen.
E. PROSTAGLANDINS
1. They are a family of fatty acids derivatives which have a variety of potent
biological activities of a hormonal or regulatory nature.
2. There are many different prostaglandins which function as regulators of
metabolism in a number of tissues and in a number of ways.
3. Fourteen prostaglandins occur in human seminal plasma.
4. The best known prostaglandins are E1 ,F1a , F2a abbreviated as PGE1 , PGF18 and
PGF2a .
5. The prostaglandins differ from each other with respect to their biological
activity, although all show at least some activity in lowering blood pressure
and inducing muscle to contract.
Prostanoic acid
(parent cells of all prostaglandins)
F. LIPOPROTEINS
1. Lipoprotein are lipids combines with proteins.
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