Lipid

Lipid
Definition: Lipids are heterogeneous group of compounds that are relatively insoluble in water but
soluble in organic solvent and chemically they are ester of fatty acid with alcohol.
Occurrences: Lipids occur widely in animal and plant kingdom. They include fat, oil, waxes and
related compounds.
Biological importance/Function: Lipids are biologically important for various purposes. These are
as follows
1. In the body, stored fat serves as an efficient source of energy.
2. Lipids are the constituents of membrane structure and regulate the membrane permeability.
3. They serve as an insulating agent in subcutaneous tissues and certain organ.
4. They also act as source of fat soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
Dept. of Biochemistry, EBAUB
5. They are involved in the production of thromboplastin in the early stage of blood clotting.
6. Lipoproteins and glycolipids are essential for maintaining cellular integrity.
7. Metabolites produces through oxidation in tissues can be used in the intra conversion of the
substances.
Classification of lipids: Lipids are classified into three major classes. These are as follows:
1. Simple lipid: Ester of fatty acids with various alcohols. Simple lipids are further
subdivided into two groups.
i). Fats and oils: They are ester of fatty acids with glycerol. Oils are fats in the liquid
state.
ii) Waxes: Ester of fatty acids with higher monohydric alcohols other than glycerol.
e.g. Vitamin D ester with palmitic acid.
2. Compound/complex lipid: Ester of fatty acids with alcohol containing additional groups such as
phosphate, nitrogenous base, carbohydrate, protein etc. Compound lipids can be further
subdivided into the following groups:
i). Phospholipids: Composed of alcohol, fatty acid, phosphoric acid, nitrogenous base and other
substituents. e.g. lecithin, cephalin etc.
ii). Glycolipids: Composed of fatty acid, amino alcohol, and carbohydrate. e.g. Cerebroside,
gangliosides etc.
iii). Lipoprotein: Macromolecular complex of lipid with protein. eg. HDL, LDL, VLDL etc.
iii). Other complex lipids: Lipids such as sulfolipids and aminolipids.
3. Derived lipid: These are the derivatives obtained on the hydrolysis of lipids. These
include fatty acids, glycerol, other alcohols, steroids, fatty aldehydes, and ketone bodies.
Composition of fat
fats
ats: Fats are ester of fatty acids with glycerol. The simplest lipids constructed from
fatty acids are the triacylglycerols, also referred to as triglycerides, fats, or neutral fats.
Triacylglycerols are composed of three molecules of fatty acids with a single molecule of glycerol. The
three different molecules of fatty acids are esterified with the three hydroxyl group of glycerol.
Glycerol Fatty acid Triacylglycerol
Physical properties of lipids:

1. Solubility: lipids are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvent (ether, chloroform,
benzene etc).
2. They are themselves good solvent for other fats, fatty acid and fat soluble vitamin.
3. They are tasteless, odorless, colorless and neutral in reaction.
4. Melting point: Their melting points are low but always higher than the temperature at which
they solidify again.
5. Specific gravity: It is less than 1, i.e, lighter than water. Solid fats are lighter than liquid fats.
Specific gravity of solid fats is 0.86.
6. It spread uniformly over the water and reduce the surface tension.
Chemical properties of lipids:

lipids:
1. Hydrolysis: Lipids undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis by lipase to yields free fatty acids and
glycerol.
2. Saponification: Hydrolysis of fats by alkali to produce soap and glycerol is termed as
saponification.
3. Rancidity: Rancidity is a chemical change (deterioration of fats or oil) that results in
unpleasant odor and taste in fats when fats are exposed to air, light, moisture, and bacteria. It
occurs due to partial hydrolysis of fats by bacterial enzyme.
4. Oxidation: Unsaturated fatty acids when react with oxygen form a number of substances
such as aldehydes or ketone which may react further to form complex compound.
Characterization of fats, oils and waxes:

Fats: Ester of fatty acids with glycerol. They are solid at room temperature.
Oil: A fat in the liquid state is known as oil. They are liquid at room temperature.
Difference between fat and oil is only physical.
Waxes: Biological waxes are esters of long-chain (C14 to C36) saturated and unsaturated
fatty acids with higher (C16 to C30) alcohols. In the body the commonest waxes are esters of
cholesterol.
Fatty acids: Fatty acids are carboxylic acids with hydrocarbon side chain. They are the simplest
form of lipids. Palmitic acid (16C) and stearic acid (18C) are the most common fatty acids.
Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids: Saturated fatty acids do not contain double bond while
unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds in their structure. Fatty acids with one
double bond are monounsaturated, and those with 2 or more double bonds are collectively known
as polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Essential fatty acids: The fatty acids which cannot be synthesized by the body and must be supplied
in diet are known as essential fatty acids. Chemically they are polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely
linoleic acid (18: 2; 9, 12), linolenic acid (18: 3; 9, 12, 15) and arachidonic acid (20: 4; 5, 8, 11,
14).
18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
CH3-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH=CH-CH2-CH=CH-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-COOH
ω1 ω2 ω3 ω4 ω5 ω6 ω9
Linoleic acid (ω6 fatty acid)
Function of essential fatty acids: Essential fatty acids are required for the membrane structure and
function, transport of cholesterol, formation of lipoproteins, prevention of fatty liver and cure skin
diseases etc. Absence of essential fatty acids in baby diets causes eczema. Deficiency of EFA causes
loss of hair and poor wound healing.
Phospholipids: Phospholipids are compound lipids composed of fatty acid, alcohol, phosphoric
acid, nitrogenous base and other substituent. e.g. lecithin, cephalin, phosphatidyl serine etc.
Types of phospholipids: There are two classes of phospholipids.

1. Glycerophospholipids: Glycerophospholipids contain glycerol as alcohol. e.g. lecithin, cephalin.
2. Spingophospholipids: Spingophospholipids contain spingosine as alcohol. e.g. sphingomyelins
Biochemical importance of phospholipids:
1. They increase the rate of fatty acid oxidation.
2. They act as carrier for inorganic ions across the membrane.
3. Phospholipids prevent the accumulation of fats in liver.
4. Phospholipids also act as surfactants.
5. They help in blood clotting.
6. They act as prosthetic group of certain enzymes.
7. They form the structure of membranes, matrix wall, myelin sheath, microsomes and
mitochondria.
Lecithins (phosphatidylcholine): Lecithins are the most abundant phospholipids composed of fatty
acids, glycerol, phosphoric acid, and choline (nitrogenous base).
Fig: Lecithins
Choline
Physiological importance:
1. It facilitates the combination with proteins to form lipoproteins in plasma and cells.
2. Acetylcholine is formed from choline is a neurotransmitter play important role in transmission
of nerve impulse.
3. Lecithin is the most important lipotropic agent prevents formation of fatty liver.
4. It lowers the surface tension of water and help in emulsification of fat.
Cephalin (phosphatidylethanolamine): Cephalins are composed of fatty acids, glycerol, phosphoric
acid, and ethanolamine (nitrogenous base). Lecithin and cephalin differ only at their nitrogenous
base.
Steroid: The compound containing cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus is called steroid.

Steroids consist of phenanthrene nucleus (ring A, B and C) to which a cyclopentane ring (D) is
attached. Steroid alcohols or sterols, such as cholesterol
are the most important steroid derivatives. Other steroids
include the bile acids, which aid digestion of fats in the
intestine; the sex hormones (androgens and estrogens);
and the corticosteroid hormones, produced by the adrenal
cortex. Vitamin D is also based on the steroid structure.
Synthetic steroids are widely used in medicine.
Cholesterol:
Cholesterol Cholesterol, exclusively found in animal, is most abundant animal sterol. It is widely
distributed in all cells and is a major component of cell membrane and lipoprotein. It contains
hydroxyl group (at C3), one double bond (C5-C6) and an eight carbon sight chain attached to C17.
Cholesterol
Function of cholesterol:
cholesterol
1. Cholesterol play role in membrane structure and function.
2. Sex hormones both male and female are synthesized from cholesterol. e.g. Testosterone,
estrogen, progesterone etc.
3. Cholesterol is the precursor of adrenocortical hormone. e.g. Cortisol
4. It also serves as the precursor of vitamain D.
5. Bile acids are synthesized from cholesterol.
6. HDL cholesterol prevents the formation of atherosclerotic plaque; thereby reduce the risk of
cardiovascular diseases.

Lipid

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Lipid

subdivided into two groups.

Glycerol Fatty acid Triacylglycerol

Physical properties of lipids:

Chemical properties of lipids:

Characterization of fats, oils and waxes:

Types of phospholipids: There are two classes of phospholipids.

Steroid: The compound containing cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus is called steroid.

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