Lipid and function

of Lipid
INTRODUCTION:-
Lipids are heterogeneous group of compounds related to fatty
acids, fats, oils, waxes and other related substances.
The term lipid was first used by German biochemist Bloor in
1943.
It is derived from a Greek word lipos meaning fat.
Lipids are insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents such
as benzene, ether, chloroform, acetone etc.
They yield fatty acids upon hydrolysis which are utilized by living
organisms.
 Lipids are not polymers like carbohydrates and proteins.
Lipids are a group of organic
compounds that are insoluble in
water but soluble in organic
solvents.
They include fats, waxes, oils,
hormones, and certain components
of cell membranes.
 Classification
 1. Simple lipids: Esters of fatty acids with alcohols. These are
mainly of two types:
 (a) Fats and oils (triacylglycerols): These are esters of fatty acids
with glycerol. The difference between fat and oil is only physical.
Thus, oil is a liquid while fat is a solid at room temperature.
 (b) Waxes: Esters of fatty acids (usually long chain) with alcohols
other than glycerol. These alcohols may be aliphatic or alicyclic.
Cetyl alcohol is most commonly found in waxes.
 2. Complex (Compound) lipids: These are
esters of fatty acids with alcohols containing
additional groups such as phosphate,
nitrogenous base, carbohydrate, protein etc.
They are further divided as follows:
 (a) Phospholipids: They contain phosphoric
acid and frequently a nitrogenous base. This
is in addition to alcohol and fatty acids.
(i) Glycerophospholipids: These
phospholipids contain glycerol as the
alcohol, e.g., Lecithin, Cephalin.

(ii)Sphingophospholipids: Sphingosine
is the alcohol in this group of
phospholipids, e.g., Sphingomyelin.
(b) Glycolipids: Contain fatty acid, carbohydrate and
nitrogenous base. Alcohol is sphingosine, also called
glycosphingolipids. Glycerol & phosphate absent (e.g.,
Cerebrosides, Gangliosides).

© Lipoproteins: Macromolecular complexes of lipids

with proteins.

 (d) Other complex lipids: Sulfolipids, aminolipids,

lipopolysaccharides etc.
 3.Derived lipids: Obtained on hydrolysis
of group 1 and group 2 lipids which still
possess characteristics of lipids. Includes
glycerol, fatty acids, mono- and
diacylglycerols, fat-soluble vitamins,
steroid hormones, hydrocarbons, ketone
bodies.
4. Miscellaneous lipids: Large number of
compounds with lipid characteristics (e.g.,
carotenoids, squalene, hydrocarbons such
as pentacosane (bees wax), terpenes etc.).

 Neutral
lipids: Uncharged lipids such as
mono-, di-, triacylglycerols, cholesterol
and cholesteryl esters.
Functions of Lipids
Lipids perform several important functions:
1. Concentrated fuel reserve of the body (triacylglycerols).
2. Constituents of membrane structure & regulate
membrane permeability (phospholipids and cholesterol).
3. Source of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K).
4. Cellular metabolic regulators (steroid hormones and
prostaglandins).
5. Protect internal organs, act as insulating material, give
shape & smooth appearance to body.
Fatty Acids:-
Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with a hydrocarbon side chain.
Simplest form of lipids.
Occurrence
Mainly occur in esterified form as major constituents of various
lipids.
Also present as free (unesterified) fatty acids.
Animal origin fatty acids: simpler structure.
 Plant origin fatty acids: more complex, may contain groups
like epoxy, keto, hydroxy, and cyclopentane rings.
 Saturated fatty acids (SFAs):- are a type of fatty
acid by the absence of double bonds in their
carbon chain.
 They are primarily found in animal products like
butter, cheese, and fatty meats, as well as in
some plant-based sources like coconut oil and
palm oil.
 But excessive intake is linked to increased LDL
cholesterol levels and potentially higher risk of
cardiovascular
 Unsaturated fatty acids :-are a type of
fatty acid that contains one or more
double or triple bonds between carbon
atoms in their hydrocarbon chain.
 Unsaturated fatty acids are generally
liquid at room temperature and are often
found in plant-based oils and fatty fish.
Phospholipids:-
These are complex or compound lipids
containing phosphoric acid, in addition to fatty
acids, nitrogenous base and alcohol.
There are two classes of phospholipids –
1. Glycerophospholipids (or phosphoglycerides)
 2. Sphingophospholipids (or sphingomyelins)
 Glycerophospholipids :-are the major
lipids that occur in biological
membranes. They consist of glycerol-3-
phosphate esterified at its C1 and C2
with fatty acids. Usually, C1 contains a
saturated fatty acid while C2 contains an
unsaturated fatty acid.
Lipoproteins
Lipoproteins are molecular complexes of
lipids with proteins. They are the transport
vehicles for lipids in the circulation.
 There are five types of lipoproteins,
Chylomicrons
Very low density lipoproteins (VLDL)
Low density lipoproteins (LDL)
High density lipoproteins (HDL)
 Free fatty acid–albumin complexes
Steroids:-
Steroids are the compounds containing a cyclic steroid
nucleus (or ring) namely
cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene (CPPP). It consists of a
phenanthrene nucleus (rings A, B and C) to which a
cyclopentane ring (D) is attached.
The methyl side chains (19 and 18) attached to carbons 10
and 13 are shown as single bonds.
At carbon 17, steroids usually contain a side chain.
 Examples: cholesterol, bile acids, vitamin D, sex
hormones, adrenocortical hormones, etc.
Cholesterol:-
Cholesterol, exclusively found in animals, is the
most abundant animal sterol.
It is widely distributed in all cells and is a major
component of cell membranes and lipoproteins.
Cholesterol (Greek: chole = bile) was first isolated
from bile.
 Cholesterol literally means “solid alcohol from
bile.”
Molecular formula: C₂₇H₄₆O
One hydroxyl group at C3 and a double bond between C5 and C6.
Total of 5 methyl groups.
Due to the presence of an –OH group, cholesterol is weakly
amphiphilic.
As a structural component of plasma membranes, cholesterol is an
important determinant of membrane permeability properties.
The occurrence of cholesterol is much higher in the membranes of
sub-cellular organelles.
 Cholesterol is found in association with fatty acids to form
cholesterol esters (esterification occurs at the OH group of C3).
 Reference
 Lehninger’s Principal of biochemistry
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