The following points highlight the four main groups of lipids. The groups are: 1. Triglycerides 2. Phospholipids (Membrane Lipids) 3. Steroids 4. Wax. Lipids: Group # 1. Triglycerides: One important group of stored lipids is triglycerides, a category that includes fats and oils. Triglycerides are composed of a single molecule of glycerol bound to three fatty acids (Fig. 7.1). Glycerol [...]
In this article we will discuss about fats and their distribution in plants. Introduction to Fats: Fats or glycerides or acylglycerols are esters of high molecular weight fatty acids and trihydroxy alcohol, the glycerol. Most of the glycerides in nature have all three hydroxyl groups of glycerol esterified with fatty acids and are called as triglycerides (or 'fats'). For example, [...]
Let us make an in-depth study of the breakdown or degradation of fats in plants. Like many other metabolites fats also exist in dynamic state in plants i.e., at one time they are being synthesized and at other times broken down to meet specific requirement of the cells. Active breakdown of fats (which are insoluble) takes place: (1) During the [...]