BS1001 Lipids

BS1001
LIPIDS
MR.K.CHIMFWEMBE
INTRODUCTION
 The lipids are a heterogeneous group of
compounds, including;
 fats,
oils,
steroids,
waxes,
Phospholipids
Glycolipids
Lipoproteins,etc
INTRODUCTION
 They are related more by their
physical than by their chemical
properties.
 Lipids are distinguished by their

insolubility in water and solubility
in nonpolar solvents
INTRODUCTION
 Lipids
can be divided in two major classes,
 nonsaponifiable lipids and
saponifiable lipids.
A nonsaponifiable lipid cannot be broken up into

smaller molecules by hydrolysis, which includes
triglycerides,
waxes,
phospholipids, and
sphingolipids.
INTRODUCTION
 A saponifiable lipid contains one or
more ester groups allowing it to
undergo hydrolysis in the presence
of an acid, base, or enzyme.
 saponifiable lipids include
steroids,
prostaglandins, and
terpenes.
INTRODUCTION
 Within these two major classes of
lipids, there are several specific
types of lipids important to life,
including
fatty acids,
triglycerides,
glycerophospholipids,
sphingolipids, and
steroids.
INTRODUCTION
 Each of these categories can be further
broken down;
Nonpolar lipids, such as triglycerides, are
used for energy storage and fuel. Polar
lipids, which can form a barrier with an
external water environment, are used in
membranes.
Polar lipids include glycerophospholipids
and sphingolipids. Fatty acids are
important components of all of these
lipids.
CLASSIFICATION OF LIPIDS
 Proteins, polysaccharides, and

nucleic acids are polymers
classified according to their
building blocks.
 Lipids classification is based upon
solubility characteristics which
can come from a variety of
structural features.
 Lipids may be classified as;
• Simple lipids: Esters of fatty acids
with various alcohols
Fats: Esters of fatty acids with
glycerol. Oils are fats in the liquid
state.
Waxes: Esters of fatty acids with
higher molecular weight monohydric
alcohols.
 Complex lipids: Esters of fatty
acids containing groups in addition
to an alcohol and a fatty acid.
Phospholipids: Lipids containing, in
addition to fatty acids and an
alcohol, a phosphoric acid residue.
They frequently have nitrogen
containing bases and other
substituents, eg, in
glycerophospholipids the alcohol is
glycerol and in sphingophospholipids
the alcohol is sphingosine.
 Glycolipids (glycosphingolipids):
Lipids containing a fatty acid,
sphingosine, and carbohydrate.
Other complex lipids: Lipids such

as sulfolipids and amino lipids.
Lipoproteins may also be placed
in this category.
 Precursor and derived lipids: These
include;
fatty acids,
glycerol,
steroids,
other alcohols,
fatty aldehydes,
and ketone bodies,
hydrocarbons,
lipid- soluble vitamins, and
hormones.
• Because they are uncharged,
acylglycerols (glycerides),
cholesterol, and cholesteryl
esters are termed neutral lipids.
FATTY ACIDS
 A fatty acid is a molecule
characterized by the presence of
a carboxyl group attached to a
long hydrocarbon chain.
 Therefore these are molecules
with a formula R–COOH where R is
a hydrocarbon chain.
FATTY ACIDS
 Fatty acids can be said to be
carboxylic acids, and come in two
major varieties.
Saturated Fatty Acids

Unsaturated Fatty Acids
 Saturated fatty acids do not have any
double bonds. A fatty acid is saturated when
every carbon atom in the hydrocarbon chain
is bonded to as many hydrogen atoms as
possible (the carbon atoms are saturated
with hydrogen).
 Saturated fatty acids are solids at room

temperature.
 Animal fats are a source of saturated fatty

acids. In addition, fatty acids pack easily
and form rigid structures (e.g., fatty acids
are found in membranes).
 Unsaturated fatty acids can have
one or more double bonds along its
hydrocarbon chain. A fatty acid with
one double bond is called
monounsaturated. If it contains two
or more double bonds, we say that
the fatty acid is polyunsaturated.
 The melting point of a fatty acid is

influenced by the number of double
bonds that the molecule contains and
by the length of the hydrocarbon tail.
 The more double bonds it contains,
the lower the melting point. As the
length of the tail increases, the
melting point increases.
 Plants are the source of
unsaturated fatty acids
–CH = CH – CH = CH – Unsaturated
fatty acid chain
–CH – CH – CH –
Saturated fatty acid chain
ESSENTIAL AND NON ESSENTIAL
FATTY ACIDS
 If a fatty acid can only be obtained
from the diet (for humans) then the
fatty acid is an essential fatty acid.
 Two fatty acids cannot be
synthesized in the human body and
are therefore essential. These are
linoleic and
linolenic fatty acids, which are both
unsaturated.
FATTY ACIDS
 Nonessential fatty acids can be
made by the human body and so
do not need to be obtained from
diet alone.
 These are made from
carbohydrates and proteins or
from other fatty acids.
FATTY ACIDS
 Fatty acids are an important
source of energy.
 While carbohydrates or proteins
only provide 4 kcal/g of energy,
fatty acids provide more than
twice the energy per unit weight
of 9 kcal/ g. This is one reason
why a high-fat diet can lead to
obesity.
GLYCEROL AND THE FORMATION
OF THE LIPID
 Glycerol has three hydroxyl
groups.
CH2OH
CH2OH
CH2OH
OF THE LIPID
• The three hydroxyl groups can
condense with a fatty acid to form
an ester.
CH2OH + HOOC-R1
CH2OH + HOOC-R2
3H20
CH2OH + HOOC-R3
OF THE LIPID
 This leads to the ,formation of a
triglyceride (LIPID).
OF THE LIPID
HYDROLYSIS OF LIPIDS
 Water is added to the Ester bond.
 It is the reversal of condensation
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
• 1 :The role of triglycerides
 Triglycerides can be used for energy storage in
animals. This food reserve can be called upon
during periods of starvation, with the high-
calorie content of the fatty acids adding to the
value of storing fat and providing much needed
energy.
 In addition, triglycerides can provide insulation

for animals in the form of body fat, which
allows them to survive in colder temperatures.
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
• 2:Phospholipids are the main lipid constituents of membranes
 The membrane of a cell separates the contents of a
cell from the external fluids. It is semipermeable so
that nutrients can enter the cell and waste products
can leave.
There are two rows of phospholipids in a cell

membrane, that they are arranged like a sandwich.
Their nonpolar tails, which are hydrophobic (water-
fearing), move to the center, while their polar heads,
which are hydrophilic (water-loving) align on the
outer edge of the membrane.
This double row arrangement of phospholipids is

called a lipid bilayer.
Cell membrane showing
phospholipid bilayer
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
 Most of the phospholipids in the lipid bilayer
contain unsaturated fatty acids. Due to the
kinks in the carbon chains at the cis double
bonds, the phospholipids do not fit closely
together.
 As a result, the lipid bilayer is not a rigid,

fixed structure, but one that is dynamic and
fluid-like. In this liquid-like bilayer, there are
also proteins, carbohydrates, and
cholesterol molecules. For this reason, the
model of biological membranes is referred to
as the fluid mosaic model of membranes.
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
 Note: In the fluid mosaic model, proteins
known as peripheral proteins emerge on just
one of the surface, outer or inner.
 The integral proteins extend through the

entire lipid bilayer and appear on both
surfaces of membrane.
 Some carbohydrates are attached to

proteins and lipids and they are responsible
for cell recognition and communication with
chemical messengers such as hormones.
FUNCTIONS OF LIPIDS
 A bilayer of such amphipathic lipids has been regarded as a
basic structure in biologic membranes. When a critical
concentration of these lipids is present in an aqueous
medium, they form micelles. Aggregations of bile salts into
micelles and liposomes and the formation of mixed micelles
with the products of fat digestion are important in
facilitating absorption of lipids from the intestine.
Liposomes may be formed by sonicating an amphipathic
lipid in an aqueous medium. They consist of spheres of lipid
bilayers that enclose part of the aqueous medium.
 They are of potential clinical use – particularly when

combined with tissue specific antibodies – as carriers of
drugs in the circulation, targeted to specific organs, eg, in
cancer therapy. In addition, they are being used for gene
transfer into vascular cells and as carriers for topical and
transdermal.

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BS1001

 Lipids are distinguished by their

A nonsaponifiable lipid cannot be broken up into

 Proteins, polysaccharides, and

Other complex lipids: Lipids such

Saturated Fatty Acids

 Saturated fatty acids are solids at room

 Animal fats are a source of saturated fatty

 The melting point of a fatty acid is

 In addition, triglycerides can provide insulation

There are two rows of phospholipids in a cell

This double row arrangement of phospholipids is

 As a result, the lipid bilayer is not a rigid,

 The integral proteins extend through the

 Some carbohydrates are attached to

 They are of potential clinical use – particularly when

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