Fatty acids: Difference between revisions
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Fatty acids are an essential part of the human body, they make up part of all [[cell|cell]] [[Cell_membrane|membranes]] and are a vital energy source. A fatty acid is made up o two functional chemical regions, one being the [[hydrophilic|hydrophilic]] [[carboxylic acid|carboxylic acid]] head that [[Covalent|covalently]] links to other fatty acids. The second is a long chain of [[hydrocarbons|hydrocarbons]] which are [[Hydrophobic|hydrophobic]] and chemically unreactive. The chain is either saturated and contains no double carbon-carbon bonds and the maximum number of hydrogen atoms (palmitic acid) or unaturated and contain double bonds (oleic acid.) | |||
Fatty acids in the form of triacylglycerol are stored in the cytoplasm of some cells, this consists of three fatty acid chains linked to a molecule of glycerol. When | Fatty acids in the form of [[triacylglycerol|triacylglycerol]] are stored in the [[Cytoplasm|cytoplasm]] of some cells, this consists of three fatty acid chains linked to a molecule of [[Glycerol|glycerol]]. When used for energy in the body the fatty acid chains are released and form two [[carbon|carbon]] units and enter the same [[metabolism|metabolism]] as [[glucose|glucose]]. | ||
Fatty acids are a common type of lipid, insoluble in water but soluble in fat. The fatty acid chains form phospholipids in cell membranes, with two fatty acids attached to glycerol and the third attached to a phosphate group. Phospholipids consist of a hydrohobic tail (fatty acid chains) and a hydrophilic head (phosphate | Fatty acids are a common type of [[lipid|lipid]], insoluble in [[water|water]] but soluble in [[fat|fat]]. The fatty acid chains form phospholipids in cell membranes, with two fatty acids attached to glycerol and the third attached to a [[phosphate|phosphate]] group. Phospholipids consist of a hydrohobic tail (fatty acid chains) and a hydrophilic head (phosphate) making them [[Amphiphilic|amphiphilic]]. This structural propertis enable the lipids to form a lipid bilayer, the basis of a cell membrane <ref>Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, fifth addition, pg 58-59</ref>.'''<u><br></u>''' | ||
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Revision as of 18:08, 22 November 2011
Fatty acids are an essential part of the human body, they make up part of all cell membranes and are a vital energy source. A fatty acid is made up o two functional chemical regions, one being the hydrophilic carboxylic acid head that covalently links to other fatty acids. The second is a long chain of hydrocarbons which are hydrophobic and chemically unreactive. The chain is either saturated and contains no double carbon-carbon bonds and the maximum number of hydrogen atoms (palmitic acid) or unaturated and contain double bonds (oleic acid.)
Fatty acids in the form of triacylglycerol are stored in the cytoplasm of some cells, this consists of three fatty acid chains linked to a molecule of glycerol. When used for energy in the body the fatty acid chains are released and form two carbon units and enter the same metabolism as glucose.
Fatty acids are a common type of lipid, insoluble in water but soluble in fat. The fatty acid chains form phospholipids in cell membranes, with two fatty acids attached to glycerol and the third attached to a phosphate group. Phospholipids consist of a hydrohobic tail (fatty acid chains) and a hydrophilic head (phosphate) making them amphiphilic. This structural propertis enable the lipids to form a lipid bilayer, the basis of a cell membrane [1].
References
- ↑ Alberts, Molecular Biology of the Cell, fifth addition, pg 58-59