Lipids

- Greek word „LIPOS‟ means FAT

- Heterogeneous group of compounds including fat, oil,

steroids, and related compounds which are relatively
insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic
solvent

- Chemically diverse group of hydrophobic organic

compounds that are actually or potentially related to
fatty acids
 Biomedical importance
• Important dietary constituent, and major source of energy for
the body

• Concentrated fuel reserve for the body

Eg. Fat
AGP
• Major structural elements of biomembrane
Eg. Phospholipids, Sterol

• Constituent of membrane structure and regulate the membrane

structure, and permeability
Eg. Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, and Steroids

• Metabolic regulator
Eg. Steroid hormone, and Prostaglandin
Contd..

• Precursor of steroid hormone, and prostaglandins

• Give shape, and smooth appearance to the body

• Serve as protective layer for the vital internal organs

• Serve as insulating materials

Eg. Thermal, Electrical
• Improves taste, and palatability of food

• Dietary fat serve as carrier of fat soluble vitamin

• Transport vehicle for lipid in blood

Eg. Lipoproteins
Contd..

• Acts as surfactant, detergent, and emulsifying agent

Example: Phospholipids

• As cofactor, electron career, light absorbing pigments,

hormone, and intracellular messenger
Example: CF: PS for PKC; EC: CO-Q
 Classification of lipids
1. Simple lipid
- Esters of fatty acid with various alcohol
a. Neutral fat
b. Wax

2. Compound lipids
- Esters of fatty acid and alcohol containing additional gps.

BB + FA + Additional group
Contd ..
a. Phospholipid
a) Glycerophospholipid
Example: PC, PE, PI, PS, PG etc.

b) Sphigophospholipid
Example: Sphingomyelin

b. Glycolipid
a) Neutral Glycosphingolipid
Example: Cerebrosides, and Globosides

b) Acidic Glycosphingolipid
Example: Gangliosides
 Contd..

C. Sulfolipids: Chemically, it is sulfate ester of cerebroside

Example: 6-sulfoquinovosyl DAG

d. Lipoproteins: Spherical, macromolecular complex consisting

of lipid, and specific protein
Example: CM,VLDL,LDL,HDL

3. Derived lipid
- Derived from simple, and compound lipids
Example: Fatty acid, Steroids, Glycerol etc.
 Simple lipid
Triacyl glycerol
- Esters of fatty acid with glycerol
- Most abundant lipids in nature and constitute about 90% of TDL
- Exists in both solid form as proper fat and liquid form as oil

1. Simple Triglyceride
Example: Tripalmitin

2. Mixed Triglycerides
Example: 1,3-dipalmitoyl-2-Olein
Differentiate B/w Fat and Oil
Contd..

Function
– Highly concentrated stores of metabolic energy

– Thermal insulator

– Padding material, and protect the vital [Link] organ

– Many animal and bird depends on fat stores for the energy
during hibernation, migratory periods
 Properties Triacylglycerol
- Insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvent
- Fats are essential for the absorption of fat soluble vitamins
- Spread uniformly over the surface of water
- All naturally occurring TAG are optically active

Specific gravity: less than that of water i.e. <1.000

Hydrolysis: TAG are sequentially hydrolyzed to DAG, and MAG,

and finally glycerol plus 3 mol. of fatty acid by lipase
Contd..

Saponification: Hydrolysis of TAG by an alkali yields glycerol,

and alkali salts of fatty acid known as “soap”

Rancidity: Deterioration of fat and oil resulting in unpleasant

taste, and smell. Fats and oils have a tendency to
become rancid. Due to auto-oxidation of USF,
usually of vegetable oil resulting in bad smell

Types of Rancidity: Hydrolytic and Oxidative

Contd..

Acetylation: Fatty acid reacts with acetic anhydrites to form

acetylated fat

Hydrogenation : Converts UNSFA to SFA in presence of

catalyst Ni. This leads to the increased
stability and solidification of fat with rise in
MT
TEST TO CHECK THE PURITY OF FAT & OIL
Iodine No. : No. gms. of iodine taken up by 100gm of Fat or oil
- Index of degree of unsaturation

Saponification No.: No. mgs of KOH required to saponify (or

to hydrolyze)1gm of given fat or oil

Acid No.: No. mgs of KOH required to neutralize the free fatty
acids present in 1gm of Fat or Oil
Wax
• Esters of long chain fatty acids with high molecular weight
monohydric alcohol
• Forms secretion of insects, leaves, and fruits of plant
• Protective coating for both animal as well as in plants
• Act as water barrier for animals, birds, and insects
• Marine organisms use wax as source of energy

Example: Carnauba wax, Bees wax,

Lanolin, Spermaceti oil etc
 Phospholipids
- Widely distributed in both animal as well as in plants
- Predominant lipid of CM, and structural component of
membrane lipids
- Amphipathic in nature
- Contain glycerol or sphingosine as a backbone to which
fatty acid, phosphate, and nitrogenous/NNB base attached

Types of phospholipids:
i. Glycerophospholipid
ii. Sphigophospholipid
Contd..

Glycerophospholipid
- Major lipid components of biological membrane

- Ampipathic molecules

- PA, parent compound for

glycerol-based phospholipids

Example: Phosphatidic acid

Example: Phosphatidyl choline, Phosphatidyl serine, Phosphatidyl

ethanolamine, Phosphatidyl inositol, Phosphatidyl glycerol,
cardiolipin etc.
Contd..

Phosphatidyl choline(PC)
- Abundant glycerophospholipid of cell membrane
- Storage form of body‟s choline
- Lipotropic factor
- Component of pulmonary surfactant
- Emulsifying agent

Phosphatidyl ethanolamine(PE)
- Major components of cell membrane, and Nervous tissue
- Also known as Cephalin
- Blood coagulation
Contd..

Phosphatidyl serine(PS)
- Found more in brain and nervous tissue compared to other tissues
- Removal of apoptic cell
- Cofactor for enzyme like PKC
- Used by athlete to improve their
performance

Phosphatidyl inositol(PI)
- PIP2 is an major component of biomembrane
- 2nd messenger in CDHA
- mediation of hormonal action in biomembrane
Contd..

Phosphatidyl glycerol(PG)
- Found more in mitochondrial membrane
- Precursor of cardiolipin

Cardiolipin
- Imp. component of Bacterial
Cell wall, and IMM of eukaryotes

- Posses antigenic properties

Contd..

Plasmalogen
- Ether glycerophospholipids possess an ether linkage instead
of ester at the C-1 of glycerol
- 10% of total PL in brain and muscle

- Influences membrane dynamics

- Involved in membrane fusion, ion transport

- PAF, Unique ether glycerophospholipids present in mammals

- Stimulate the platelet aggregation, and release of 5HT from platelet
Sphigophospholipid
- Phosphorus containing subclass of sphingolipids
- Components of plasma membrane of animal cell
- Constituents of myelin sheath, and nervous tissues
Example: Sphingomylein

Sphingosine

Ceramide
Sphingosine

[Link]

Sphingomylein
Phosphoric acid

L/S Ratio: fetal lung maturity

Choline
 Glycosphingolipid
- Sugar containing lipid, and are widely distributed in every tissue
of body but predominantly in Brain, and Nervous tissues

- Consists of ceramide with one or more sugar residues

- Present in outer leaflet of plasma membrane where they
contribute to cell surface carbohydrates

Types of glycosphingolipids:
i. Neutral glycosphingolipids
Eg. Cerebrosides, and Globosides

ii. Acidic glycosphingolipids

Eg. Gangliosides
 Contd..

Cerebrosides
- Simplest neutral glycosphingolipid, found more in WMB,MSN,PNS
- Ceramide monosacharide complex containing FA, Sphingosine and
either Galactose (Galactocerebroside) or Glucose (Glucocerebroside)

Types of Gangliosides: NOCK

Function of Cerebrosides:
- Insulating materials

- Concerned with permeability process in brain cell

Contd..

Globosides
- Neutral glycosphingolipids with 2 or more sugar, usually
D-Glucose, D-Galactose, and N-Acetyl Galactosamine
Eg. Lactosylceramide, Component of RBC membrane
 Contd..

Gangliosides
- Complex glycosphingolipid, have oligosaccharide as their
polar head group and one or more sialic acid residue at termini
- Ceramide oligosaccharide containing three or more sugar
group with at least one sialic acid
- Found more in GMB, and Ganglion cells of CNS perticularly
at the Nerve ending
Types of Gangliosides: GM,GD,GT etc
NOTE: In shorthand nomenclature of gangliosides(Eg.GM1),G represents
gangliosides, M represents monosialo-containing species, and the
subscript 1 is a no. assigned on the basis of chromatographic migration
Contd..

Function of Gangliosides:
• Component of specific receptors present on the surface of
cell membrane
• Receptor for various toxin
- Receptor for cholera toxin in intestine and also for receptor of
other toxin like tetanus toxin

• Specific determinants of cell–cell recognition

Contd..

Sulfolipids: Chemically, it is sulfate ester of cerebrosides

- In animal, high concentration found in white matter of brain,
and myelin sheath of nerves
Eg. 6-sulfoquinovosyl DAG, sulfagalactocerebrosides
 Lipoprotein
- Spherical, macromolecular complex consisting of lipid and
specific protein
Peripheral apoprotein (Eg. Apo C )

Free cholesterol Phospholipid

Cholesteryl ester

- Acts as transport vehicle Triacylglycerol

for lipid in blood plasma

Example: CM,VLDL,LDL,HDL Core of

non-polar lipid
Integral apoprotein
Monolayer of ampipathic
Eg. Apo B lipids
Contd..

Function of lipoprtotein
- Acts as transport vehicle for lipid in plasma
- Maintain the structural integrity of cell surface and cellular
particle

CM: Transport exogenous TAG & CE from intestine to liver, EHT

VLDL: Transport endogenous TAG from liver to extrahepatic tissue
LDL : Transport cholesterol from liver to extrahepatic tissue
HDL : Transport the cholesterol from peripheral tissue to liver
 Micelles
- Molecular aggregate of amphipathic substance in an aqueous
medium of excessive concentration
- Amphipathic lipids structures, formed when mixed in water
(aqueous phase), the polar groups (heads) orient themselves
towards aqueous phase while non-polar (tails)orient towards
non-aquous central core
- Small stable droplet of about <20nm
- 100-1000 Amphipathic molecules
- Micelle formation is facilitated by bile
salts is prerequisite for the digestion
and absorption of lipid
 Liposomes
- An artificially-prepared vesicle composed of a lipid bilayer,
separating an aqueous internal compartment from the bulk
aqueous phase

• Prepared by disrupting biological

membranes (such as by sonication)

• Vehicle for administration of nutrients

and pharmaceutical drugs

Clinical Application
- Gene transfer into vascular cells
- Carriers for topical, and transdermal delivery of drugs and cosmetics
- Chemotherapy, Antimicrobial therapy, gene therapy
 Steroids
- Compounds containing a cyclic steroid nucleus,
cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene(CPPP)

- Consists of a phenanthrene nucleus

(rings A, B, and C) to which a cyclopentane
ring (D) is attached

EXAMPLES:
- Cholesterol
- Bile salts
- Vitamins
- Adrenocorticosteroids
- Sex hormones
 FATTY ACIDS
- Derived lipid and most common compound of lipid
in the body
- Mainly occur as esters in various kind of lipid
Eg. TAG, Phospholipid, Glycolipid

- Most commonly occurring fatty acids have even

numbers of carbon atoms, is an unbranched chain of
14 to 24 carbons
Contd..

- They are carboxylic acid with hydrocarbon side chain

General formula:

Note: COOH represent the functional group while R represent the

hydrocarbon chain
Contd..

Nomenclature of fatty acid

Structure Common name Systemic name

CH3(CH2)6COOH Caprylic acid Octanoic acid

CH3(CH2)14COOH Palmitic acid Hexadecanoic acid

Numbering. of carbon atom in fatty acid

ω α 1
CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2COOH

Abbreviation of Fatty acids(short hand representation)

Linolenic acid:18:3;9,12,15 or (∆9,12,15)

 Function
• Serves as fuel molecules

• Highly concentrated stores of metabolic energy

• Structural component of membrane lipids

• Building blocks of phospholipid, and Glycolipid

• Derivatives of it serves as hormone

 Classification of fatty acid
Fatty acids

Depending on Depending on length Depending on nature Based on Nutrion

[Link] C-atom of C-atom of hydrocarbon
Non-EFA
Short Chain FA:(2-6) SFA(CnH2n+1COOH) Eg. Palmitic
Even Chain FA
Eg. Butyric, Caproic Eg. Palmitic
Eg. Butyric,Caproic EFA
MUFA
Medium CFA: (8-14) USFA Eg. Linoleic,
Odd Chain FA Eg. Capric, Lauric Lionolenic
Eg. Propionic,Valeric
PUFA
Long CFA: (16-24) Branch Chain FA
Eg. Palmitic, Stearic Eg. Isobutyric, Isovaleric
Hydroxy FA
Very LCFA: (>24) Eg. Ricinolic
Eg. Lignoseric
Cyclic FA
Eg. Chaulmoorgic, Hydnocapric
 Essential fatty acid
- Fatty acid which are not synthesized in our body but we
have to supply regularly as a supplement in the diet for
proper growth, development and maintenance of health in
infant, children, and adults
Eg. Linoleic acid, Linolenic acid
Contd..

Function of PUFA
– Required for membrane structure and function
– Synthesis of Eicosanoid
– Formation of lipoprotein
– Transport of cholesterol
– Prevention of fatty liver
– Cure certain skin lesion

Deficiency manifestation:
- Scaly skin(orToad skin), Eczema, loss of hair, poor growth etc.
 Deficiency Manifestation
Eczema: Characterized by dermatitis, and degenerative changes
in arterial wall
Phrenoderma /Toad Skin: Characterized by presence of
horny eruption on the posterior and lateral part of limb, on
the backs & buttocks, loss of hair and poor wound healing
Other complication: failure in growth, dermatitis, impaired
vision, peripheral neuropathy, fatty liver, kidney damage etc.
Skin lesion: Acanthosis, Hyperkeratosis,↑BMR and loss of H2O