Hi,

Lipids can be classified into two major substances

Hydrolyzable and nonhydrolyzable.

Hydrolyzable lipids

The simple esters include the fats (triacylglycerol; one glycerol + three acyl residues); the waxes (one fatty alcohol + one acyl residue); and the sterol esters (one sterol + one acyl residue).

The phospholipids are esters with more complex structures. Their characteristic component is a phosphate residue. The phospholipids include the phosphatidic acids (one glycerol + two acyl residues + one phosphate) and the phosphatides (one glycerol + two acyl residues + one phosphate + one amino alcohol).

In the sphingolipids , glycerol and one acyl residue are replaced by sphingosine. Particularly important in this group are the sugar-containing glycolipids (one sphingosine + one fatty acid + sugar). The cerebrosides (one sphingosine + one fatty acid + one sugar) and gangliosides (one sphingosine + one fatty acid + several different sugars, including neuraminic acid) are representatives of this group. The components of the hydrolyzable lipids are linked to one another by ester bonds. They are easily broken down either enzymatically or chemically.

95% of plant and animal products are source of hydrolyzable lipids like nuts, olives,milk butter etc.

Non-hydrolyzable lipids

The hydrocarbons include the alkanes and carotenoids . The lipid alcohols are also not hydrolyzable. They include long-chained alkanols and cyclic sterols such as cholesterol, and steroids such as estradiol and testosterone. The most important acids among the lipids are fatty acids. The eicosanoids also belong to this group; these are derivatives of the polyunsaturated fatty acid arachidonic acid.

Thank you!

Hi there

Lipids are organic compounds that are fatty acids or derivatives of fatty acids which are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. For eg., natural oil, steroid, waxes.

1. Lipids are oily or greasy nonpolar molecules, stored in the adipose tissue of the body.
2. Lipids are a heterogeneous group of compounds, mainly composed of hydrocarbon chains.
3. Lipids are energy-rich organic molecules, which provide energy for different life processes.
4. Lipids are a class of compounds distinguished by their insolubility in water and solubility in nonpolar solvents.
5. Lipids are important in biological systems because they form the cell membrane, a mechanical barrier that divides a cell from the external environment.