Primary metabolites 1 Flashcards
what makes up a fatty acid a
hydrocarbon chain
what is special about the number of carbons that makes up the chain
there is usually an even number of carbons
what does the fatty acid chain start and end with
starts with a methyl end, omega,n
ends with a carboxyl end, delta, COOH
what does saturated/unsaturated mean
is there is a single bond its saturated
unsaturated = double bond - longer word - double
what is a fatty acid called if there are several double bonds
polyunsaterated
what does 18:3,n-3 mean
18 carbons: 3 double bonds (desaturations)
, n-3 position of the first double bond defined from the methyl end, n
what is the shorthand if the fatty acid is saturated with 18 carbons
18:0, X
what is FAS and what does it do
Fatty Acid Synthase, multi enzyme system in the cytosol, that catalyses fatty acid synthesis, a system
what does elongase do
extends the fatty acid in 2 carbon units
what do desaturases do, and what end is this worked out from
add double bonds to a fatty acid, the carboxyl COOH end
major function of fatty acids
components of phospholipids - cell membranes
what is a trigycaride
glycerol + 3 fatty acids
- fatts and oils - type of fat
important carbon storage molecule - more space efficient than carbs - they don’t hold water
what is the molecule that FAS predominantly produces - the max length molecule
palmitic acid - 16 carbons long
most common saturated FA in humans
what are essential fatty acids
we can’t make them - need to get them from our diets
what important molecule do we need to make from essential amino acids, what are they and what do they do
eicosanoids - short range hormones - for inflammation and nerve function
