Lipids include fats, such as triglycerides, which are made up of fatty acids and glycerol, phospholipids, and steroids.ĭuring this covalent bond formation, three water molecules are released. In a fat molecule, a fatty acid is attached to each of the three oxygen atoms in the –OH groups of the glycerol molecule with a covalent bond (Figure 2). Fatty acids have a long chain of hydrocarbons to which an acidic carboxyl group is attached, hence the name “fatty acid.” The number of carbons in the fatty acid may range from 4 to 36 most common are those containing 12–18 carbons. Glycerol is an organic compound with three carbon atoms, five hydrogen atoms, and three hydroxyl (–OH) groups. Lipids include fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.Ī fat molecule, such as a triglyceride, consists of two main components-glycerol and fatty acids. Lipids are also the building blocks of many hormones and are an important constituent of all cellular membranes. For example, they help keep aquatic birds and mammals dry when forming a protective layer over fur or feathers because of their water-repellant hydrophobic nature. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals (Figure 1). Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon–carbon or carbon–hydrogen bonds. Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. Hydrophobic lipids in the fur of aquatic mammals, such as this river otter, protect them from the elements.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |