Characteristics of Lipids

Composed of Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen

Greater than 2:1 ratio of H:O
Includes fats, oils, phospholipids, and cholesterol
Building blocks are fatty acids and glycerol.
Energy storage molecules
Phospholipids part of cell membrane
Fatty Acid Structure
Carboxyl group (COOH) forms the acid.
R group is a hydrocarbon chain.
A Representative Fatty Acid
Saturated
Fatty Acid
Unsaturated
Fatty Acid
Glycerol
Synthesis of a Fat
A Phospholipid
Phospholipids
Contains a phosphate group
Two fatty acid and one phosphoric acid
molecule condensed with a molecule of
glycerol
Polar OH group of phosphate are attracted
to polar water molecules while rest of
molecule is non-polar

Phospholipids
Major components of cell membranes
Structure of phospholipids cause then to
orientate themselves into bilayers with a
hydrophobic centre. This is the essential
basis of cell membranes.