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Introduction to Lipid Metabolism
Lipids – Some basics
Before starting the metabolism of lipids, we will first go through some basic revision that is necessary for understating the topic.
This topic is quite difficult and lengthy and there is not a single book for the students. Students face difficulty in finding the related topics in one place especially during revision and exams. So I have tried to make it easier for the students to understand the topic.
Definition
- Lipids are naturally occurring hydrophobic compounds formed from alcohols and fatty acids or isoprenoid (5-carbon compound).
- Lipids have actual or potential relation with fatty acids e.g. cholesterol has no fatty acid but derived form Acetyl CoA from fatty acid breakdown.
- Lipids can also be defined as esters of fatty acids with alcohol or formed from isoprenoids.
Classification
- Simple lipids – Fats & Oils and Waxes
- Complex Lipids
- Derived lipids
1. Simple Lipids
- Fats and Oils
- Waxes
Fats & Oils
Fats are formed from Glycerol and Free fatty acids – TAG/TGs. FFA are attached to glycerol with ester linkages.Oil is liquid at room temperature while fat is solid at room temperature
Oil has more unsaturation (double bonds) and has low boiling and melting point.
Waxes
Waxes have high molecular weight. These are monohydric alcohols may have 24, 26 carbons while oils and fats have only 3C.
2. Complex Lipids
- In complex lipids in addition to glycerol and fatty acids some other group is also attached.
- There are 4 types of complex lipids
- Phospholipids – Glycerophospholipids and Sphingophospholipids
- Glycosphingolipids
- Sulpholipids
- Lipoproteins
FOR COMPLETE LIST OF LESSONS CLICK BIOCHEMISTRY II ON HOME PAGE OR FROM THE DROP DOWN LIST. THEN CLICK LIPID METABOLISM AND ONCE ON THE PAGE CLICK CURRICULUM TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF LESSON.