LIPIDS

STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION

Lecturer: Mr Likando
Objectives: By the end of session,
the student should be able to:
• Define and classify lipids
• Explain the structure and physical properties of fatty acids.
• Describe the structure, properties and functions of Triacylglycerols.
• Describe the structure , properties and functions of Structural lipids.
• Explain the role of glycolipids in determining the blood groups.
• Describe the function of eicosanoids and fat soluble vitamins.
 Definition and Classification
• A diverse group of compounds, the common and defining feature is that
they are insoluble in water but soluble in organics solvents like ether.
• Classification is based on combination of function and chemical structure.
-Storage lipids-storage form of energy in living things.
- Structural lipids- major structure of biological membranes.
• Storage lipids: Triacylglycerols (fats and oils) The principal storage form
of energy in many organisms. Made up of Glycerol and 3 fatty acids.
• Glycerol is a Sugar alcohol derived from Glyceraldehyde through a
reduction reaction.
• A fatty acid- a carboxylic acid with a long hydrocarbon chain ranging
from 4 to 36 carbons (c₄ to c₃₆).
 FATTY ACIDS
• The Fatty Acids can be; Saturated- no double bonds. Unsaturated -
one or more double bonds.
• Commonly occurring Fatty Acids have even number Carbons and the
length of chains is between 12 to 24 Carbons.

Commonly occurring Saturated fatty acids

C12:0 - Lauric Acid
C14:0- Myristic Acid
C16:0- Palmitic Acid
C18:0- Stearic Acid
C20:0 Arachidic Acid
SATURATED FATTY ACIDS
UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
Unsaturated – one or more double bonds.
C16:1-Palmitoleic Acid
C18:1-Oleic Acid
C18:2-Linoleic Acid
C18:3-Linolenic Acid
C20:4-Arachidonic Acid
POLY UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
UNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS
.
• In naturally occurring Fatty Acids the double bonds are in the Cis
configuration.
• Trans fatty acids are found in dairy products and meat and are
associated with an increase in Low density Lipoproteins ( Bad
Cholesterol) and a decrease in HDL ( Good Cholesterol).
• It is recommended to avoid taking in these fatty acids.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
Solubility in a Water Medium
• Determined by length and degree of unsaturation of
hydrocarbons. The longer the Fatty acyl chain the lower the
solubility and the fewer the double bonds the lower the solubility
in water.
• The short chain fatty acid are more soluble than the long chain
fatty acids and the Polyunsaturated fatty acids are more soluble
than saturated fatty acids.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• Melting Point
• Melting point is also determined by the length and degree of
unsaturation of the hydrocarbon.

• At room temperature saturated Fatty Acids with from C12:0 to C24:0

are solid (waxy). This because the most stable form of the
hydrocarbon chain is fully extended position and can pack together.

• Unsaturated fatty acids are liquid (oily). The double bonds provide
kinks and therefore these Fatty acids cannot pack together as tightly
as the fully saturated ones.
TRIACYLGLYCEROLS (TAGs)
• (Triglycerides, Fats or Natural Fats)

• These are Fatty acid esters of Glycerols.

• made up of 3 Fatty acids in an ester linkage to a single Glycerol molecule.
• Called simple TAG if the 3 fatty acids are the same.
• Tristearin – C18:0- Stearic acid.
• Tripalmitin – C16:0 – Palmitic acid.
• Triolein – C18:1 – Oleic acid.

• Most of the naturally occurring TAGs are of the mixed variety. They contain
2 or more types of fatty acids.
Properties and functions of TAG
• PROPERTIES : Non polar, Hydrophobic and insoluble in water
FUNCTIONS – Source of energy.
• Stored in adipose tissue { under the skin, around the abdomen} in
adipocytes-{fat cells} as oily droplets in the cytoplasm.
• Adipocytes contain enzymes called Lipases that breaks the TAGs to 3
Fatty acids and Glycerol. The fatty acids are transported bound to
albumin from the adipose tissues to where they are needed for
energy production.
An Example of a mixed TAG
Functions of TAG
• Advantage of storing energy in the form of TAGs as opposed to storing in
the form of Glycogen is that more energy is produced from breakdown of
Fatty acids than Glucose.
• (a gram of carbohydrates produces 4kCal while a gram of fats produces
9kCal).
• Little water is required to store fats. However carbohydrates are a quick
source of energy-easily mobilized and oxidized.
• Insulation : Fats are used for insulation against low temperatures. Animals
like Seals that live in the cold places have a lot of fat for insulation.
• Dietary sources of TAGS- vegetable oils, Dairy products and animal fats.
STRUCTURAL LIPIDS
• STRUCTURAL LIPIDS: These form part of the Biological Membranes – the
LIPID BILAYER
• They are AMPHIPATHIC- at one end of the molecule is hydrophobic and the
other is hydrophilic .Hydrophobic ends interact with each other while the
hydrophilic interact with water.
• There are 4 types of structural or membrane lipids that exist in the human
body, Glycerolphospholipids, Sphingophospholipids, glycolipids and Sterols.
• Glycerolphospholipids and sphingophospholipids are also called
phospholipids. Glycolipids are conjugated lipids made up of lipid and a
carbohydrate. Sterols are characterised by a rigid four fused hydrocarbon
rings called steroid nucleus.
STRUCTURES OF LIPIDS
 PHOSPHOLIPIDS
(Glycerophospholipids)
• The parent compound is called Phosphatidic Acid. In general there is a
saturated fatty acid at C1 of glycerol (C16 or C18) and unsaturated Fatty Acid
at C2 (C18 or C20). Different types of glycerophospholipids are formed when
an alcohol group attaches to the phosphate group.
Type of Alcohol Name of Compound
Ethanolamine Phosphatidylethanolamine
Choline Phosphatidylcholine
Serine Phosphatidylserine
Glycerol Phosphatidylglycerol
Phosphatidlyglycerol Cardiolipin
Glycerophospholipids
PHOSPHOLIPIDS
(Sphingophospholipids)
Sphingophospholipids falls under sphingolipids. There are made up
Sphingosine: The parent compound of sphingolipids is ceramide.
Sphingomyelin is an example of a sphingophospholipid found in the
human body.
It is made up Sphingosine which has 2 functional groups an amino
group and an OH group. A fatty acid is linked to amino group while a
Phosphate group is linked to the OH. Then an alcohol choline is linked
to the Phosphate group. Sphingomyelin is found in the myelin sheath
that surrounds neurons.
 GLYCOLIPIDS
GLYCOLIPIDS. Also fall under the group of Sphingolipids are made up of
Sphingosine to which is linked a fatty acid at the amino group.
A monosaccharide or disaccharide or trisaccharide or tetrasaccharide or an
oligossacharide or attached to the OH group of the Sphingosine.

Name of the Sphingolipid Group attached to the OH

Cerebrosides Monosaccharide unit
Globoside Di, tri or tetrasaccharide
Ganglioside Complex oligosaccharide
SPHINGOLIPIDS
GLYCOLIPIDS

• These are Membrane Lipids and have covalently bound

Oligosaccharides.
• Gangliosides are an example of Membrane Glycolipids.
• The Oligosaccharide is found on the outer surface of the membrane.
• The Oligosaccharides in the Glycolipids are also important in the
determination of human blood groups.
•
BLOOD GROUPS
STEROLS
• Characteristic structure is the steroid nucleus consisting of four fused
rings and cholesterol is the major sterol in animals.
• Cholesterol has a polar head group (the hydroxyl group of C-3) and a
nonpolar hydrocarbon body. It is widely distributed in all tissues but
does not occur in plants and it is a major constituent of plasma
membranes and lipoproteins.
• Cholesterol also serve as precursors of a variety of products with
specific activities e.g. Steroid hormones, bile acids
• It is amphipathic with polar OH group and nonpolar steroid nucleus
and hydrocarbon side chain.
Cholesterol
Steroid hormones
.
Name Type
Testosterone Androgens
Estradiol Estrogens
Cortisol Glucocorticoids
Aldosterone Mineralcorticoids
Eicosanoids
• Local hormones -act near where they are synthesized derived from
Arachidonic acid C20:4. Have a variety of function;
Reproductive functions
Inflammation, fever, and pain associated with injury and disease.
Blood clotting.
Regulation of blood pressure
Gastric acid secretion

Three types; Prostaglandins, Thromboxanes and Leukotrienes.

Eicosanoids
• Prostaglandins- 1st discovered in prostate gland . Acts by regulating
synthesis of cAMP which mediates a lot of actions in the body e.g.
contraction of smooth muscle during labour and menstruation,
elevation of body temperature and inflammation and pain.
• Thromboxanes- produced by platelets and plays role in formation of
blood clot.
• Leukotrienes- found in leukocytes causes contraction of smooth
muscles of the lining of the airway in the lungs. Too much production
causes asthmatic attacks.
Synthesis of Eicosanoids from
Arachidonic acid
FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS
VITAMIN A-Retinol
VITAMIN D- Cholecalciferol
VITAMIN E-Tocopherols
VITAMIN K- Phylloquinone

• Vitamin A (Retinol) is important in vision and development of epithelial tissue.

• In carrots, sweet potatoes and yellow vegetables there is Beta carotene can be
converted to Vit A. Deficiency of vitamin A leads to dryness of the skin and mucous
membranes and night blindness.

•
• .
•

•
Vitamin D- Cholecalciferol
• It is produced in the skin by UV light irradiation of 7-
dehydrocholesterol. Cholecalciferol is activated in the liver and the
kidney to produce 1,25 cholecalciferol which regulates the
metabolism of Ca ions in the intestines and the bone.
Vitamin E and K
• Vitamin E
An anti oxidant that protects the membranes from damage by free
radicals.

• Vitamin K
An important cofactor in the blood clotting mechanism.