Lipids
Lipids are one of the types of biomolecules in the body .
Other names include:
● Macromolecules (emphasizing their large size)
● organic molecules (emphasizing their carbon structure).
Biomolecules include
● Lipids
● Carbohydrates
● Protein
● Nucleic acids
Lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, like carbohydrates, but the ratios of these atoms are
different, so that lipids are typically nonpolar (another word for hydrophobic).
Roles of Lipids:
● ENERGY - Adipose tissue stores lipids as triglycerides. These lipids have a glycerol head and three
fatty acid tails. This provides vast amounts of efficient energy storage in our bodies. They have a
glycerol head and 3 fatty acid tails. Saturated fatty acids have all single-bonded carbon chains so they
are able to saturate the carbon chain with hydrogens. Saturated fatty acids are safely stable for A TP
production and long-term storage.
Lipogenesis is the process by which fatty acids and glycerol are connected together into
triglycerides. Lipolysis is the breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol. Insulin is
the primary hormone that stimulates lipogenesis. Multiple hormones stimulate fat breakdown,
such as catecholamines like adrenaline and dopamine, thyroxine, and cortisol.
Ketogenesis is the process by which fatty acids are partially broken down into short carbon
chains called ketones. Both fatty acids and ketones can be utilized by the mitochondria to make
A TP .
Lipids are one of the types of biomolecules in the body .
Other names include:
● Macromolecules (emphasizing their large size)
● organic molecules (emphasizing their carbon structure).
Biomolecules include
● Lipids
● Carbohydrates
● Protein
● Nucleic acids
Lipids contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, like carbohydrates, but the ratios of these atoms are
different, so that lipids are typically nonpolar (another word for hydrophobic).
Roles of Lipids:
● ENERGY - Adipose tissue stores lipids as triglycerides. These lipids have a glycerol head and three
fatty acid tails. This provides vast amounts of efficient energy storage in our bodies. They have a
glycerol head and 3 fatty acid tails. Saturated fatty acids have all single-bonded carbon chains so they
are able to saturate the carbon chain with hydrogens. Saturated fatty acids are safely stable for A TP
production and long-term storage.
Lipogenesis is the process by which fatty acids and glycerol are connected together into
triglycerides. Lipolysis is the breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol. Insulin is
the primary hormone that stimulates lipogenesis. Multiple hormones stimulate fat breakdown,
such as catecholamines like adrenaline and dopamine, thyroxine, and cortisol.
Ketogenesis is the process by which fatty acids are partially broken down into short carbon
chains called ketones. Both fatty acids and ketones can be utilized by the mitochondria to make
A TP .
