1.4 Lipids

1.4 Lipids

What makes up a Lipid?

• Not polymers formed from chains of monomers like carbohydrates and proteins.
• All contain hydrocarbons, but have a variety of different components.
• The different components determine the lipid's function.
• 2 types of lipid: Triglycerides & Phospholipids.

Triglycerides

• One molecule of glycerol with three fatty acids attached.
• Fatty acid molecules have "tails" made of hydrocarbons.
• Tails are hydrophobic (repel water molecules) = make lipids insoluble in water.

Fatty Acids

• All consist of same structure, but hydrocarbon tail varies (R-group)

• 2 types of fatty acid: saturated & unsaturated
• Saturated: no double bonds between carbon atoms as the fatty acid is saturated with hydrogen.

• Unsaturated: Have double bonds between carbon atoms, which cause the chain to kink.

Triglyceride Formation

• Formed by condensation reactions between a fatty acid and the glycerol molecule.
• An ester bond is formed as a water molecule is…