Lipids

What are Lipids?
Lipids are molecules that contain hydrocarbons and make up the building
blocks of the structure and function of living cells. Examples of lipids include
fats, oils, waxes, certain vitamins (such as A, D, E and K), hormones and most
of the cell membrane that is not made up of protein.
Lipids are not soluble in water as they are non-polar, but are thus soluble in
non-polar solvents such as chloroform.
What do Lipids Consist of?

Lipids are mainly composed of hydrocarbons in their most reduced form,
making them an excellent form of energy storage, as when metabolized the
hydrocarbons oxidize to release large amounts of energy. The type of lipid
found in fat cells for this purpose is a triglyceride, an ester created from
glycerol and three fatty acids.
Where do Lipids Come From?

Excess carbohydrates in the diet are converted into triglycerides, which
involves the synthesis of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA in a process known as
lipogenesis, and takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum. In animals and
fungi, a single multi-functional protein handles most of these processes, while
bacteria utilize multiple separate enzymes. Some types of unsaturated fatty
acids cannot be synthesized in mammalian cells, and so must be consumed as
part of the diet, such as omega-3.
Acetyl-CoA is also involved in the mevalonate pathway, responsible for

producing a wide range of isoprenoids, which include important lipids such as
cholesterol and steroid hormones.
Categories of Lipids
 Fatty Acids
Fatty acids are long chain carboxylic acids (typically 16 or more carbon atoms)
which may or may not contain carbon-carbon double bonds. The number of
carbon atoms are almost always an even number and are usually unbranched.
Oleic acid is the most abundant fatty acid in nature.
Mono/Poly Unsaturated and Saturated
Those fatty acids with no carbon-carbon double bonds are called saturated.
Those that have two or more double bonds are called polyunsaturated. Oleic
acid is monounsaturated, as it possesses a single double bond.
Saturated fats are typically solids and are derived from animals, while
unsaturated fats are liquids and usually extracted from plants.
Unsaturated fats assume a particular geometry that prevents the molecules

from packing as efficiently as they do in saturated molecules, leading to their
propensity to exist as a liquid rather than a solid. Thus, the boiling point of
unsaturated fats is lower than that of saturated fats.
 Glycerolipids
Glycerolipids are composed of mono-, di-, and tri-substituted glycerols. The
best-known being the fatty acid triesters of glycerol, called triglycerides. The
word "triacylglycerol" is sometimes used synonymously with "triglyceride". In
these compounds, the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol are each esterified,
typically by different fatty acids. Because they function as an energy store,
these lipids comprise the bulk of storage fat in animal tissues. The hydrolysis
of the ester bonds of triglycerides and the release of glycerol and fatty acids
from adipose tissue are the initial steps in metabolizing fat.
Waxes/Fats and Oils
These are esters with long-chain carboxylic acids and long-alcohols. Fat is the
name given to a class of triglycerides that appear as solid or semisolid at room
temperature, fats are mainly present in animals. Oils are triglycerides that
appear as a liquid at room temperature, oils are mainly present in plants and
sometimes in fish.
 Glycerophospholipids
Glycerophospholipids, usually referred to as phospholipids (though
sphingomyelins are also classified as phospholipids), are ubiquitous in nature
and are key components of the lipid bilayer of cells, as well as being involved in
metabolism and cell signaling. Neural tissue (including the brain) contains
relatively high amounts of glycerophospholipids, and alterations in their
composition has been implicated in various neurological disorders.
Glycerophospholipids may be subdivided into distinct classes, based on the
nature of the polar headgroup at the sn-3 position of the glycerol backbone in
eukaryotes and eubacteria, or the sn-1 position in the case of archaebacteria
 Sterol lipids
Sterol lipids, such as cholesterol and its derivatives, are an important
component of membrane lipids, along with the glycerophospholipids and
sphingomyelins. The steroids, all derived from the same fused four-ring core
structure, have different biological roles as hormones and signaling molecules.
The eighteen-carbon (C18) steroids include the estrogen family whereas the
C19 steroids comprise the androgens such as testosterone and androsterone.
The C21 subclass includes the progestogens as well as the glucocorticoids and
mineralocorticoids. The secosteroids, comprising various forms of vitamin D,
are characterized by cleavage of the B ring of the core structure. Other
examples of sterols are the bile acids and their conjugates, which in mammals
are oxidized derivatives of cholesterol and are synthesized in the liver. The
plant equivalents are the phytosterols, such as β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and
brassicasterol; the latter compound is also used as a biomarker for algal
growth. The predominant sterol in fungal cell membranes is ergosterol.
Synthesis and Function of Lipids in the Body

Lipids are utilized directly, or otherwise synthesized, from fats present in the
diet. There are numerous biosynthetic pathways to both break down and
synthesize lipids in the body.
The main biological functions of lipids include storing energy, as lipids may be
broken down to yield large amounts of energy. Lipids also form the structural
components of cell membranes, and form various messengers and signaling
molecules within the body.

Lipids

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Lipids

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What are Lipids?

What do Lipids Consist of?

Where do Lipids Come From?

Acetyl-CoA is also involved in the mevalonate pathway, responsible for

Mono/Poly Unsaturated and Saturated

Unsaturated fats assume a particular geometry that prevents the molecules

Waxes/Fats and Oils

Synthesis and Function of Lipids in the Body

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