Lipids definitions Flashcards

Tending to repel or fail to mix with water due to nonpolar characteristics, often seen in lipids.

Organic molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, each with unique structures and functions, forming the basis of cellular processes and structures.

A molecule with both hydrophobic (water-fearing) and hydrophilic (water-loving) regions.

Attracted to and interacts well with water due to the presence of polar or charged groups.

Small molecules that can join together to form larger, complex structures called polymers, serving as the building blocks for macromolecules like proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates.

Large molecules composed of repeating subunits called monomers, forming long chains or networks, essential in biological structures and functions.

Hydrophobic biomolecules used for long-term energy storage, composed of glycerol and fatty acids, and can be saturated (single bonds) or unsaturated (double bonds).

Hydrophobic lipids that are liquid at room temperature, primarily composed of unsaturated fatty acids, and used for long-term energy storage in plants and animals.

Amphipathic lipids with hydrophilic phosphate heads and hydrophobic fatty acid tails, forming bilayers in cell membranes.

Lipid molecules with a structure of four fused carbon rings, functioning in cell membranes and as hormones like testosterone and estrogen.

Fatty acids bound to long-chain alcohols, serving in protection and water loss prevention.

A lipid bilayer structure that regulates the entry and exit of substances, maintaining homeostasis and enabling communication between the cell and its environment.

A hydrophobic lipid molecule essential for cell membrane structure, hormone synthesis, and bile production, often associated with cardiovascular health.

Chemical messengers secreted by glands, traveling through the bloodstream to target organs, regulating physiological processes and behavior.

A steroid hormone that regulates male secondary sexual characteristics, muscle mass, and reproductive functions.

A steroid hormone that regulates reproductive and sexual functions, secondary sexual characteristics, and menstrual cycles in females.

A hydrophobic lipid composed of fatty acids bound to long-chain alcohols, used by bees for constructing honeycombs and protecting against water loss.

Long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxyl group at one end, varying in saturation, serving as key energy sources and building blocks for complex lipids.

Fatty acids with only single bonds between carbon atoms, resulting in straight chains that are solid at room temperature.

Fatty acids with one or more double bonds between carbon atoms, causing kinks in the chain, which prevent tight packing and typically result in a liquid state at room temperature.

A lipid composed of one glycerol molecule bonded to three fatty acids, primarily used for long-term energy storage in animals and plants.

A three-carbon molecule with hydroxyl groups, serving as the backbone for triglycerides and phospholipids in lipid structures.

with uneven distribution of charges, resulting in distinct positive and negative ends, which affects their interactions with water and other substances.

Molecules that do not have regions of positive or negative charge, making them hydrophobic and insoluble in water.

Fatty acids bound to long-chain alcohols, providing protection and preventing water loss.

Organic compounds with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a carbon atom, often found in lipids like waxes, where they bind to fatty acids.