BIOL 102 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Cholesterol, Transmembrane Protein, Membrane Protein
Document Summary
Lipid: carbon-containing compounds that are found in organisms and are largely nonpolar and hydrophobic, only dissolve in non-polar organic solutions: characterized by solubility. Why are lipids insoluble in water: they have significant hydrocarbon component. Hydrocarbon: molecules that contain only carbon and hydrogen, they are non-polar since electrons b/w the 2 share equally(b/c of approx. equal electro-neg. of h & c) Fatty acid: hydrocarbon chain bonded to carboxyl (-cooh) group, they are key building blocks of lipids found in organisms. A look at 3 types of lipids found in cells. Unlike amino acids, nucleotides and monosaccharaides lipids are characterized by a physical property: their solubility (instead of by a shared chemical structure). The structure in lipids varies widely: most important types of lipids found in biological systems are fats, steroids and phospholipid. Steroids: a family of lipids distinguished by a bulky, 4- ring structure.
