Back to notes
Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids in terms of structure.
Press to flip
Saturated fatty acids have straight chains with single bonds, while unsaturated fatty acids have bent chains due to one or more double bonds.
What structural feature of fatty acids varies and contributes to their diverse functions?
The length of carbon chains, level of saturation, and presence of bends contribute to the diversity.
Describe the energy content comparison between carbohydrates and lipids like triglycerides.
Triglycerides are more energy-dense, providing about 9 calories per gram compared to carbohydrates.
What role do phospholipids play in cellular membranes?
Phospholipids form bilayers that contribute to cell membrane permeability, regulating what can pass through.
What common property do all lipids share?
Lipids are hydrophobic and non-polar, making them not soluble in water.
What distinguishes cis unsaturated fatty acids from trans unsaturated fatty acids?
Cis unsaturated fatty acids have hydrogens on the same side, causing a bend, while trans unsaturated fatty acids have hydrogens on opposite sides and are straight.
How are triglycerides structurally formed?
Triglycerides are formed from glycerol and three fatty acid chains through condensation reactions.
Explain the term amphipathic as it applies to phospholipids.
Amphipathic means having both hydrophobic (fatty acid tails) and hydrophilic (phosphate heads) regions, as seen in phospholipids.
What biological functions are influenced by steroid hormones, and why can they pass through cell membranes?
Steroid hormones influence hormone function and can pass through membranes because they are hydrophobic and can dissolve in the lipid bilayer.
How does the structure of phospholipids influence their behavior in water?
Their amphipathic nature leads them to spontaneously form bilayers, with heads facing outward towards water and tails inward away from water.
In what way does the concept of saturation affect the physical state of fatty acids at room temperature?
Saturated fatty acids are typically solid, while unsaturated fatty acids, due to kinks in their chains, are usually liquid.
How do steroids differ from most other lipid types in terms of structure?
Steroids have a structure based on four fused carbon rings, unlike the long chains seen in fatty acids.
What is the functional significance of adipose tissue in animals?
Adipose tissue serves as long-term energy storage, thermal insulation, and shock absorption.
Why can't polar molecules typically pass through the cell membrane phospholipid bilayer?
Polar molecules cannot pass through due to the hydrophobic nature of the fatty acid tails in the bilayer.
Why are some steroids considered essential for biological processes despite their potential harm?
Essential steroids, like steroid hormones, are crucial for regulating various physiological functions in the body.
Previous
Next