Lecture Five
Lipids and MembranesAssist. Prof. Dr. Khalidah Merzah
Lipids comprise very heterogeneous group of compounds which are insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar organic solvents such us benzene, chloroform, and ether. They are present in all living organisms. The group includes fats, oils, waxes and related compounds.
General Functions of Lipids
i. They are efficient energy sources.
ii. Serve as thermal insulators.
iii. They are structural components of the cell membrane.
iv. Serve as precursors for hormones (steroid hormones).
v. They also dissolve the vitamins, which are fat-soluble and assist their digestion.
Classification: - There are two ways of classification i.e.,