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Introduction to lipids, their molecular structure, types, and functions.
16 lis 2023 · Structure of Lipids. Lipids are made of the elements Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen, but have a much lower proportion of water than other molecules such as carbohydrates. Unlike polysaccharides and proteins, lipids are not polymers—they lack a repeating monomeric unit. They are made from two molecules: Glycerol and Fatty Acids.
Together with proteins and carbohydrates, lipids are one of the principal structural components of living cells. Why are lipids important? Lipids are a diverse group of compounds and serve many different functions.
Lipids are the polymers of fatty acids that contain a long, non-polar hydrocarbon chain with a small polar region containing oxygen. The lipid structure is explained in the diagram below: Lipids can be classified into two main classes: A nonsaponifiable lipid cannot be disintegrated into smaller molecules through hydrolysis.
Lipids may be broadly defined as hydrophobic or amphiphilic small molecules; the amphiphilic nature of some lipids allows them to form structures such as vesicles, multilamellar/unilamellar liposomes, or membranes in an aqueous environment.
1 maj 2023 · Lipids are an essential component of the cell membrane. The structure is typically made of a glycerol backbone, 2 fatty acid tails (hydrophobic), and a phosphate group (hydrophilic). As such, phospholipids are amphipathic.
1 kwi 2024 · Structural Composition:Lipids predominantly consist of hydrocarbon chains, giving them a heterogeneous nature. While fats and oils are primarily triglycerides, providing concentrated energy storage, phospholipids stand out as essential cell membrane constituents.
