Lipids

Phospholipids
Steroids and Cholesterol
Plasma (Cell)Membranes

1
 Phosphoglycerides
• Most abundant lipids in cell membranes
• Control cell permeability
FATTY ACID

glycerol FATTY ACID

Amino
PO4
alcohol

2
 Lecithin
• Abundant in brain and nerve tissues
• Found in egg yolk, what germ, yeast
O
CH2 O C (CH2)14CH3
O
CH O C (CH2)14CH3
O
+
CH2 O P O CH2CH2N(CH3)3
O- choline, an amino alcohol
3
 Sphingolipids
Esters of an 18-carbon alcohol sphingosine

FATTY ACID
sphingosine

Amino
PO4
alcohol

4
 Sphingomyelin
Found in the myelin sheath
CH3(CH2)12CH=CH –CH–OH
O

sphingosine ‖ fatty acid

CH–NH –C –(CH2)14CH3
O
‖ +
CH2 –O –P –O –CH2CH2 –N–(CH3)3
‖ 5
 Steroids
• Steroid nucleus
• 3 cyclohexane rings
• 1 cyclopentane ring

steroid nucleus 6
 Cholesterol
• Most abundant steroid in the body
• Add methyl CH3- groups, alkyl chain, and
-OH to steroid nucleus
CH3 CH3
CH3
CH 3
CH 3

HO 7
 Cholesterol in the Body

• Cellular membranes
• Myelin sheath, brain, and nerve tissue
• Bile salts
• Hormones
• Vitamin D

8
 Bile Salts

• Synthesized in the liver from cholesterol

• Stored in the gallbladder
• Secreted into small intestine
• Mix with fats to break them part
• Emsulsify fat particles

9
 Example of a Bile Salt

cholic acid, a bile acid

O
CH3
OH C N CH2 COO- Na+
CH3
H
CH3 gycine, an amino acid

HO OH
sodium glycocholate, a bile salt

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 Steroid Hormones
• Chemical messengers in cells
• Sex hormones
Androgens in males (testosterone)
Estrogens in females (estradiol)
• Adrenocorticosteroids from adrenal glands
mineralocorticoids (electrolyte balance)
glucocorticoids regulate glucose level

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 Sex Hormones
CH 3 OH CH 3 OH

CH3 CH 3

O HO

testosterone estradiol

12
 Plasma Membranes

• Surround cells
• Lipid bilayer pf phospholipids
• Nonpolar hydrocarbon tails in center
• Polar (hydrophilic) sections on outside
• Some unsaturated fatty acids give flexibility
• Keep aqueous contents inside
• Allow certain biochemicals to pass through
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 Diagram of a Plasma
Membrane
Polar sections

Nonpolar tails

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Other Structures in Membranes
• Cholesterol molecules add strength
• Glycolipids on surface communicate with
other cells
• Proteins embedded in bilayer move certain
substances (water, K+, Cl-, HCO3-) across
the cell membrane
• Proteins on surface act as receptors for
hormones and other biochemicals

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 Learning Check PL1
Identify each lipid as: (1) phospholipid (2) steroid
(3) triglyceride (4) sphingolipid
A. Cholesterol
D. Glycerol, 2 fatty acids, phosphate, and choline
E. Glyceryl tristearate
F. Sphingosine, fatty acid, phosphate, and choline
G. Estradiol
H. Bile salts
I. Most of plasma membranes
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 Solution PL1
A. 2 steroid
B. phospholipid
C. 3 triglyceride
D. 4 sphingolipid
E. 2 steroid
F. 2 steroid
G. 1 phospholipid

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