Biology: ALBG10

Topic 1: Lifestyle, health and risk Food and health Lipids

Learning objective
Describe the synthesis of a triglycerides by the formation of ester bonds during condensation reactions between glycerol and three fatty acids and recognise differences between saturated and unsaturated lipids

The nutrients you need

Macronutrients Carbohydrates
Provide energy

Proteins
Growth and repair of cells, broken down into amino acids

Fats/lipids
Provide energy, stored as body fat

Lipids
The one class of large biological molecules that does not include polymers Grouped together because they share one important trait
have little or no affinity to water (hydrophobic)

Contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

the proportion of oxygen is lower than in carbohydrates

Lipids
Source of energy Important source of energy of diet in many animals Most effective energy store
more energy per gram than carbohydrates or protein

Lipids
Source of energy (contd) Many plants and animals convert spare food into oils or fat for later use
seed of plants contain oil for the growth of seedlings

Lipids
Solubility Insoluble in water
Hydrocarbon tail contributes to hydrophobicity

Dissolve in organic solvent

E.g. alcohol, ether and chloroform does not interfere with waterbased reactions in cells

Lipids

Roles of lipids

Lipids
Other roles of lipid
Fats are stored in adipose tissue below the dermis as a heat insulator. An example is blubber in whales Constituents of myelin sheath, insulates axon and speeds up nerve transmission

Types of lipids
The three main groups that are commonly found in plant cells and animal cells are

Lipids

Triglycerides

Phospholipids

Steroids

Types of lipids
The three main groups that are commonly found in plant cells and animal cells are

Lipids

Triglycerides

Phospholipids

Steroids

Fats and oils

Important group of lipids Chemically similar

Solid at room temperature

Liquid at room temperature

Triglycerides
Fats and oils (triglycerides) are made up of one glycerol molecule and three fatty acids

Triglycerides
Glycerol (also known as glycerine) An alcohol with 3 carbon atoms each bearing an -OH Has the chemical formula C3H8O3

Triglycerides
Fatty acids All fatty acids have a long hydrocarbon chain
A pleated backbone of carbon atoms with hydrogen atoms attached Carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end

The COOH group is hydrophilic

Triglycerides
Fatty acids (contd)
When the carboxyl group is attached to a glycerol to form a fat, the whole molecule becomes hydrophobic

Triglycerides
Fatty acids (contd) Two main ways fatty acids can vary 1. The length of the carbon chain can differ (usually between 15 and 17 carbon atoms) 1. The fatty acids may be saturated or unsaturated

Triglycerides 1 Glycerol 3 Fatty acids Saturated

Unsaturated

Triglycerides 1 Glycerol 3 Fatty acids Saturated

Unsaturated

Saturated fatty acids

Fatty acid chains contain the maximum number of hydrogen atom Hydrocarbon chain is long and straight Each carbon atom is joined to the next one by a single covalent bond
no double bonds (C=C)

Saturated fatty acids (contd)

Major sources: Animal fats from meat and dairy products

Saturated fatty acids (contd)

Pack closely together strong intermolecular bonds between triglycerides solid at room temperature

Saturated fatty acids (contd)

Examples of saturated fatty acids

Triglycerides 1 Glycerol 3 Fatty acids

Unsaturated Monounsaturated Polyunsaturated

Saturated

Unsaturated fatty acids

Monounsaturated One double bond (C=C) in each hydrocarbon chain

Unsaturated fatty acids

Monounsaturated e.g. Oleic acid

Unsaturated fatty acids

Polyunsaturated Larger number of double bond (C=C) in each hydrocarbon chain

Unsaturated fatty acids

Polyunsaturated Larger number of double bond (C=C) in each hydrocarbon chain

Unsaturated fatty acids

The double bond causes a kink in the hydrocarbon chain
preventing them from packing closely together weaker intermolecular bonds between triglycerides liquid at room temperature

Saturated vs. unsaturated fatty acids

How is triglycerides formed?

Triglycerides are formed by condensation (esterification) reaction and broken up by hydrolysis reaction A bond is formed between (-COOH) of a fatty acid and (-OH) of a glycerol Ester bond

Condensation reaction

Condensation reaction

Ester bond

Hydrolysis of triglycerides

Lipids and the heart

vs.

Lipids and the heart

Fatty foods are very high in energy and hence diet rich in lipids is likely to result in obesity

Lipids and the heart

Saturated fats - Particularly in dairy produce and meat - Can lead to fatty plaques in the arteries heart disease

Unsaturated fats - Found mainly in plants - Does not seem to contribute to fatty plaques (but not all are equally healthy) - Polyunsaturated fats have an even stronger positive effects on cardiovascular health

Lipids and the heart

Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature . How do we solidify margarine (made from vegetable oils)?

Lipids and the heart

Most unsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature . How do we solidify margarine (made from vegetable oils)?
Solid fats can be manufactured from oils by converting animal or vegetable oils by passing hydrogen through the oil under controlled conditions. The addition of hydrogen to the unsaturated bonds (alkenic double C=C bonds) results in saturated C-C bonds, effectively increasing the melting point of the oil and thus "hardening" it. However, as there are possible health benefits in limiting the amount of saturated fats in the human diet, the process is controlled so that only enough of the bonds are hydrogenated to give the required texture.

Types of lipids
The three main groups that are commonly found in plant cells and animal cells are

Lipids

Triglycerides

Phospholipids

Steroids

Steroid
Has a molecular structure that is very different from other lipids Unlike other lipid molecules, it is not formed by the bonding of fatty acids and alcohol It is a complex organic compound with 4 rings of carbon interconnected to form a skeleton attached to it is a straight chain of variable length Classified as lipids to their insolubility in water

Steroid

Steroid e.g. cholesterol

Cholesterol
Short lipid molecule Vital component of cell membranes (organisation & functioning) Steroid sex hormones (progesterone & testosterone), growth hormones, bile salts Made in the liver from saturated fats Obtained in our diet (eggs, meat and dairy products)

Steroid e.g. cholesterol

Questions.
1. Describe the main difference between a saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, and the effect this difference has on the property of lipids 2. Explain how triglycerides are formed

Questions.
When only single bonds exist between the carbon atoms in a fatty acid, it is known as a ________ fatty acid. When a fatty acid contains a single double bond it is regarded as __________. A fatty acid that contains two or more double bonds is considered as ___________

Questions.
Give two reasons why fat is such an important storage compound?

Questions.
Give two reasons why fat is such an important storage compound?
1. Fat is a non-polar compound and does not dissolve in water. Due to this property, fat can be stored without affecting the osmotic potential of plant and animal cells 1. A gram of fat contains more stored potential energy than an equivalent weight of carbohydrate. This extra energy capacity economizes storage space and reduces the organisms weight