Lipid metabolism
Encyclopedia
Lipid metabolism refers to the processes that involve the intercourse and degradation of lipid
s.
The types of lipids involved include:
Lipid
Lipids constitute a broad group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins , monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others...
s.
The types of lipids involved include:
- Bile salts
- CholesterolCholesterolCholesterol is a complex isoprenoid. Specifically, it is a waxy steroid of fat that is produced in the liver or intestines. It is used to produce hormones and cell membranes and is transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. It is an essential structural component of mammalian cell membranes...
s - EicosanoidEicosanoidIn biochemistry, eicosanoids are signaling molecules made by oxidation of twenty-carbon essential fatty acids, ....
s - GlycolipidGlycolipidGlycolipids are lipids with a carbohydrate attached. Their role is to provide energy and also serve as markers for cellular recognition.-Metabolism:...
s - Ketone bodiesKetone bodiesKetone bodies are three water-soluble compounds that are produced as by-products when fatty acids are broken down for energy in the liver and kidney. They are used as a source of energy in the heart and brain. In the brain, they are a vital source of energy during fasting...
- Fatty acids - see also fatty acid metabolismFatty acid metabolismFatty acids are an important source of energy and adenosine triphosphate for many cellular organisms. Excess fatty acids, glucose, and other nutrients can be stored efficiently as fat. Triglycerides yield more than twice as much energy for the same mass as do carbohydrates or proteins. All cell...
- PhospholipidPhospholipidPhospholipids are a class of lipids that are a major component of all cell membranes as they can form lipid bilayers. Most phospholipids contain a diglyceride, a phosphate group, and a simple organic molecule such as choline; one exception to this rule is sphingomyelin, which is derived from...
s - SphingolipidSphingolipidSphingolipids are a class of lipids containing a backbone of sphingoid bases, a set of aliphatic amino alcohols that includes sphingosine. They were discovered in brain extracts in the 1870s and were named for the mythological Sphinx because of their enigmatic nature. These compounds play...
s - SteroidSteroidA steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
- see also steroidogenesis - Triacylglycerols (fats) - see also lipolysisLipolysisLipolysis is the breakdown of lipids and involves the hydrolysis of triglycerides into free fatty acids followed by further degradation into acetyl units by beta oxidation. The process produces Ketones, which are found in large quantities in ketosis, a metabolic state that occurs when the liver...
and lipogenesisLipogenesisLipogenesis is the process by which acetyl-CoA is converted to fats. The former is an intermediate stage in metabolism of simple sugars, such as glucose, a source of energy of living organisms. Through lipogenesis, the energy can be efficiently stored in the form of fats...
External links
- Ophardt, Charles E. (2003) Lipid Catabolism Summary. Virtual Chembook. Elmhurst College.
- King, Michael W. Fatty Acid, Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid, Triglyceride, and Phospholipid Synthesis and Metabolism. The Medical Biochemistry Page.