EE BIOL 185 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Cytochrome B6F Complex, Glycerophospholipid, Lipid Bilayer
19 Feb 2017
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Document Summary
Biological molecules soluble in organic solvents but only sparingly soluble in water. Major characteristics: not polymers, unlike proteins/carbs, so wider variety of structures, aggregation e. g. bilayers (membranes): associate with one another, greatest structural variation of major biomolecules. Major classes of lipids: fatty acids: simplest form. Amphiphilic/amphipathic: hydrophobic tail/hydrophilic head (have hydrophobic/hydrophilic character) Free fatty acids rarely found as free fatty acids in cells since remarkable detergents - hydrophobic portion dissolves grease/hydrophilic portion solubilizes grease/hydrophobic molecules. They will disrupt structure of proteins/other components within cells lethal. Usually even # of carbon atoms: synthesis of fatty acids involve growth by 2 carbon units. In double bonds normally found in unsaturated, first double bond is usually c9 (delta 9 double bonds) Polyunsaturated fatty acids thought to be good for you. Fatty acids called omega-3 or omega-6: omega fatty acids numbered from carbons from terminal of tail (ex. omega-3 = 3 carbons away from terminus)
