In this article we will discuss about the classification of lipids. Contrary to carbohydrates which constitute a family of relatively homogenous compounds, lipids form a very heterogenous class of compounds of widely differing structures and grouped according to their insolubility in water and solubility in organic solvents (ether, acetone, chloroform-alcohol mixtures, etc.). These solubility criteria are not absolute. Lipids were [...]
In this article we will discuss about the metabolism of sphingolipids, explained with the help of a suitable diagram. Sphingosine results from the condensation of palmityl-coenzyme A with serine. The next step consists in the binding of a fatty acid which gives a ceramide. This ceramide can react either with CDP-choline to form a sphingomyelin, or with UDP-galactose to give [...]
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 [...]