BIOC 2580 Final: Biochemistry 2580 Final review.pdf

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Biochemistry
• Course: BIOC 2580
• Professor: Enoka Wijekoon

Document Summary

Lipids- structurally diverse group of molecules, not defined by their chemical structure but bu their common chemical property- hydrophobicity, dissolve in organic solvents (2:1 chloroform : methanol) Fats, oils, triglycerides; *structural elements of biological membranes ex. Phospholipids and sterols; **signal transduction (cell-cell communication) ex. Steroid hormones, prostaglandins; enzyme cofactors **coenzyme q: mitochondrial etc; **vitamins a, d, e, k; **light absorbing pigments ex carotene; *=passive (large quantities), Lipids can occur covalently linked to other classes of biomolecules- glycolipids (sphingolipids, gangliosides) contain both sugar and lipid portions- important constituents of cell membranes (ex. Blood groups a,b,o defined by glycolipids displayed on outer surfaces of blood cells), lipoproteins (vdl, ldl, hdl), plasma lipoproteins associated with cardiovascular health and disease. Lipids aggregate spontaneously to form complexes when dispersed in h2o, form roughly spherical micelles ~3-few 100nm diameter, polar on outside non-polar inside. Saturated fatty acids- no double bonds between c in chains: laurate (12c), myristate (14c),