LIPIDS

FattyAcids
Triacylglycerols
Glycerophospholipids
Sphingolipids
Waxes
Terpenes
Steroids
A. Fatty Acids
 Soaps= metallic salts of fatty acids (but usually Na+, K+ and NH4+)

CH3(CH2)16COONa = sodium stearate

Detergents = sodium sulfates and sulfonates

CH3(CH2)16COOH CH3(CH2)16CH2OH CH3(CH2)16CH2OSO3H CH3(CH2)16CH2OSO3Na

If R = -CH2(CH2)14CH3 detergent is biodegradable

detergent id non-biodegradable
Other detergents (non-ionic):
B. Triacylglycerols
C. Glycerophospholipids
Ether glycerophospholipids

Plasmalogens:
1. Phosphatidal cholines,
2. Phosphatidal ethanolamines,
3. Phosphatidal serines
D. Sphingolipids

Sphingosine as carbon backbone of

sphingolipids instead of alcohols

Sphingosine + fatty acid = ceramide

choline

Sphingolipids:
a) sphingomyelins

stearic acid
b) glycosphingolipids

gangliosides

cerebroside
 E. Waxes = esters of fatty acids + long chain alcohols (not glycerol)

Fatty acids are usually saturated and alcohols are maybe saturated or
unsaturated or cholestrol
Water-insoluble so give water-repelling properties of animal skin,
leaves of plants, bird feathers

Examples:
1. Spermaceti = CH3(CH2)14COOCH2(CH2)15CH3, 11% of whale oil
2. Carnauba wax = automobile finishes
3. Lanolin = wool wax
F. Terpenes = derivatives of 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene or isoprene

1. Monoterpenes (C10) = 2 isoprene units

2. Sesquiterpenes (C15) = 3 isoprene units
3. Diterpenes (C20)
4. Triterpenes (C30) = squalene and lanosterol (precursors of
cholesterol and steroids)
5. Tetraterpenes (C40)= carotenoids (precursor of Vit A), lycopene
(of tomatoes)
Polyprenols- polyprenoids with a terminal alcohol moiety, serve to anchor
proteins to biological membranes, serve as side chains of Vit K, ubiquinones,
phostoquinones and tocopheols (Vit E)
G. Steroids
Biological Membranes
uniquely organized arrays of lipids and proteins (either of which may be
decorated with carbohydrate groups.
Ampiphatic = possessing both polar and non-polar groups as in the case of
lipids (mostly phospholipids) in the body

The polar moieties mostly lie at the surface where they interact with water.
The proteins interact with the lipids in membranes in a variety of ways:
a) The proteins may interact with the lipids though electrostatic
interaction
b) The proteins are maybe embedded in the core of the membrane by
hydrophobic interactions
c) Other proteins are anchored to the lipids via covalent bonding in the
inner core of the membrane
a) Micelles: preferred form of aggregation for soaps and detergents

Critical micelle concentration (CMC)

<CMC = individual lipid molecules predominate,
b) Lipid bilayer back-to-back arrangement of monolayers

Closed vesicle = extensive bilayers wrapping around themselves

Unilamellar vesicle - liposomes Multilamellar vesicle - Bangosomes

Source: Grisham and Garrrett
Fluid mosaic model proposed by S.J. Singer and G.L. Nicholson:

The phospholipid bilayer is a fluid matrix, a two dimensional solvent for

protein. The proteins and lipids are capable of rotational and lateral
movement.
Membrane functions

1. Boundaries and containers of all cells and of the organelles

within eukaryotic cells.
2. Transport of substances into and out of cells and organelles.
3. Catalysis because enzymes can be bound- sometimes
tightly- to membranes
4. As receptors in which proteins bind specific biologically
important substances that trigger biochemical responses in
the cell.
Transport passive and active
Passive transport :
a) Simple diffusion - passage of simple, uncharged molecules like
O2, N2, H2O and CO2

b) Facilitated diffusion for passage of large, esp polar molecules

by using a carrier protein ex. movement of glucose into erythrocytes

Active transport moving substances across a concentration gradient,

a carrier protein is needed and energy to move solutes against a gradient
ex. the sodium-potassium pump
Vitamin A 800 g ( upper limit ca. 3000 g)
Vitamin D 5 to 10 g ( upper limit ca. 2000 g)
Vitamin E 15 mg ( upper limit ca. 1 g)
Vitamin K 110 g ( upper limit not specified)