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Fatty Acid Nomenclature
A system to classify fatty acids based on their structure, including chain length and the presence of double bonds.
Lipolysis
The metabolic process that breaks down triglycerides into free fatty acids and glycerol.
Triglycerides
A type of fat stored in the body, consisting of three fatty acids attached to glycerol.
Lipases
Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
Saturated Fatty Acids
Fatty acids that lack double bonds between individual carbon atoms and are typically solid at room temperature.
Unsaturated Fatty Acids
Fatty acids that contain one or more double bonds in their structure and are usually liquid at room temperature.
Cis and Trans Fatty Acids
Isomers of unsaturated fatty acids, differing in the configuration around the double bond; cis is naturally occurring, while trans is often artificially created.
Acetyl-CoA
A two-carbon molecule that plays a key role in metabolism, particularly in fatty acid oxidation and the citric acid cycle.
Beta-Oxidation
The catabolic process by which fatty acids are broken down in mitochondria to generate acetyl-CoA, FADH2, and NADH.
Ketone Bodies
Water-soluble molecules produced in the liver from acetyl-CoA during periods of low carbohydrate intake or fasting.
Ketosis
A metabolic state characterized by elevated levels of ketone bodies in the bloodstream, typically after prolonged fasting.
Ketoacidosis
A dangerous condition marked by excessive ketone body production that overwhelms the body's ability to use them, leading to acidosis.
Hormone-Sensitive Lipase (HSL)
An enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of stored triglycerides and is regulated by hormonal changes.
Carnitine
A molecule that assists in the transport of fatty acids into mitochondria for beta-oxidation.
Malonyl-CoA
A molecule that inhibits fatty acid uptake into mitochondria and thus regulates fatty acid oxidation.
Essential Fatty Acids
Fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize and must be obtained through diet, such as linoleate and linolenate.
Non-Ketotic Hypoglycemia
A condition where blood glucose is low but ketone levels remain low, typically associated with excessive insulin secretion.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)
A severe complication of diabetes, characterized by high blood glucose, insulin deficiency, and excessive ketone production.
Acetoacetate
One of the primary ketone bodies produced during fatty acid oxidation in the liver.
β-Hydroxybutyrate
The most abundant ketone body in the blood during ketosis, derived from acetoacetate.
Gluconeogenesis
The metabolic pathway that results in the generation of glucose from non-carbohydrate substrates.
Eicosanoids
Signaling molecules derived from fatty acids that play crucial roles in inflammation and immune responses.
Hydrophobic Tails
The non-polar part of fatty acids that repels water and contributes to the structure of lipids in membranes.
Hydrophilic Head
The polar part of fatty acids that interacts with water, forming the head of phospholipids.
Fatty Acid Transporters
Proteins that facilitate the movement of fatty acids across cell membranes.
Fatty Acid Binding Proteins (FABPs)
Proteins that bind free fatty acids within cells, preventing toxicity and assisting in intracellular transport.
