Lipids

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  • Created by: araelw
  • Created on: 26-02-14 18:16

Lipids Overview: Triglycerides

Made up from one molecule of glycerol and 3 fatty acids. 

Functions: 

  • Resipiratory Substrate: a trigylceride molecule yields twice as many molecules of ATP than glucose. 
  • Thermal Insulation
  • Buoyancy: lipids are less dense than wate. 
  • Waterproofing: oils secreted by some animals onto their skins are triglycerides. 

They are non polar molecules which means that there is no charge. 

The nature of the hydrocarbon chains can differ: 

  • The number of carbon atoms can change.
  • Hydrocarbon chains can have different numbers of hydrogen atoms: if all the carbon-carbon bonds are single, it is saturated. If not, it is unsaturated. 
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Lipids Overview: Phospholipids

Phospholipids have one glycerol molecule, 2 fatty acids, and a phosphate group. 

There is a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic end, due to the ionic phosphate group. Because of this nature, when placed in water, the phospholipids form a bilayer, whereby the hydrophilic heads face outwards, and  the hydrophobic tails inwards.

These bilayers are the basis of plasma membranes. 

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