Macromolecules: Lipids

What are lipids made of?

fatty acids
- more specifically, C, H, and O

do lipids have a monomer

no

Lipid functions 

• long term energy storage
  - insulation in animals and plants
  - building blocks of hormones

Lipid examples

• fats, oils
  - phospholipids
  - steroids
  - waxes

What is an ester bond

"bond between glycerol and fatty acid

"

What are fats/oils made of

3 fatty acids attached to 1 glycerol

what is glycerol?

organic alcohol

What are fatty acids made of

hydrocarbons w/ a carboxyl group

Saturated vs. unsaturated fatty acid

"Saturated: has single bonds in the chain
- solid at room temp

unsaturated: has a double bond, resulting in a bent shape
- liquid at room temp
- usually healthier
- can have multiple double bonds (polyunsaturated)

"

Types of bonds in unsaturated fatty acids

"Cis isomer: H's are on same side

Trans isomer: H's are on opposite sides
- synthetic
- solid at room temp cus it has a straight shape 

"

What are phospholipids made up of

• glycerol
  - phosphate (attached to a polar head group)
  - 2 fatty acids

Phospholipids characteristics

hydrophilic head, hydrophobic tail
- forms a bilayer
- gives cells their structure and stop them rom dissolving in the watrer

Phospholipid functions

• boundary betweene external and internal environment
  - semipermeable (only certain things are allowed to go in/out of the cell)
  - mediates interactions w/ the environment

What is the structure of steroids

"4 fused carbon rings

"

Characteristics of Steroids

• hydrophobic
  - they're alcohols

Functions of steroids

• stabilizes membrane
  - can be found in phospholipid bilyaer

Examples of steroids

• cholesterol
  - cortisol