BIOL10002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Carboxylic Acid, Triglyceride, Glycerol
21 Jul 2018
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Document Summary
Lipids are insoluble in water b/c of their many nonpolar covalent bonds - hydrophobic. When nonpolar hydrocarbons are sufficiently close to one another, weak but additive van der. The huge macromolecular aggregations that can form are not polymers in a strict chemical sense, because the individual lipid molecules are not covalently bonded. With this understanding, it is still useful to consider aggregations of individual lipids as a different sort of polymer. Lipids include both hydrophobic and amphipathic molecules that are largely composed of carbon and hydrogen. They are important in energy storage, light absorption, regulation, and biological structures. Phospholipids play important structural roles in cell membranes. Carotenoids and chlorophylls help plant capture light energy. Steroids and modified fatty acids play regulatory roles as hormones and vitamins. Fat in animal bodies serve as thermal insulation. A lipid coating around nerves provides electrical insulation.
