Page 105 - General Biochemistry

Chapter 6

LIPIDS

1) LIPID CHEMISTRY

Lipids are Organic substances relatively insoluble in water but soluble in
organic solvents like chloroform, ether and benzene

Examples of Lipid:

• Fats and Oils (triglyceride)

• Waxes (bees wax)

• Steroids (estrogen)

• Fat- soluble vitamins (KEDA)

• Phospholipid

• Mono- di glycerides

Lipid properties:

• All are present in all living organisms
• All are insoluble in water but soluble in organic nonpolar solvents such as

chloroform, ether, benzene and acetone
• They contain long-chain hydrocarbon groups (carbon and hydrogen) but

may also contain oxygen, phosphorus, nitrogen and sulfur resulting in
different types of lipids
• All lipids have in common a hydrophobic fatty acid chain, either linear or
ring structure.

Lipid functions:

• Source of fuel molecules

• Structural property as it is involved in the formation of different membranes

(Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Cholesterol)

• A Signaling molecule (steroids) (ex:estrogen)
• Enzyme cofactors (vitamins)(ex:vit D for ca and p metabolism)

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