What is the general structure of a triglyceride?

What is the general structure of a triglyceride?

Triglycerides are tri-esters consisting of a glycerol bound to three fatty acid molecules. Alcohols have a hydroxyl (HO–) group. Organic acids have a carboxyl (–COOH) group. Alcohols and organic acids join to form esters.

What is the structure and function of a triglyceride?

Triglycerides consist of a glycerol “backbone” along with three fatty acids bonded to the backbone in an ester linkage. Glycerol is a three-carbon molecule, C(H2)OH-C(H)OH-C(H2)OH. When one of its hydroxyl groups (-OH) loses a hydrogen, a fatty acid can bind to the oxygen in its place, creating a C-O-C (ester) bond.

How are triglycerides metabolized?

Triglycerides cannot pass through cell membranes freely, and LPLs, special enzymes on the walls of blood vessels, must break triglycerides down into free fatty acids and glycerol; fatty acids can then be taken up by cells via fatty acid transporters.

What are the structural components of a triglyceride quizlet?

What are the components of a triglyceride? A molecule of glycerol and 3 fatty acids.

Are triglycerides in the cell membrane?

Although triglycerides are also found as components of some cellular membranes, their solubility in phospholipid membranes is rather limited. Lamellar phosphatidylcholine bilayers have been measured to allow partitioning of only about 3–5% of triglyceride into the membrane phase [1], [2].

What are the components of a triglyceride molecule?

A triglyceride is composed of glycerol and three fatty acids. When all of the fatty acids in a triglyceride are identical, it is termed a “simple” triglyceride. The more common forms, however, are the “mixed” triglycerides in which two or three kinds of fatty acids are present in the molecule.

What are the four structural subunits that contribute to the structure of a triacylglycerol?

19.23 The four structural subunits that contribute to the structure of a triacylglycerol are a glycerol molecule and three fatty acid molecules. This triacylglycerol molecule contains palmitic acid, myristic acid, and oleic acid. b. This triacylglycerol molecule contains oleic acid, palmitic acid, and palmitoleic acid.

What is the structure of a triglyceride quizlet?

What is the structure of a triglyceride? One glycerol molecule joined to three fatty acid molecules by three ester bonds.

Are triglycerides lipoproteins?

Triglycerides are a major component of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and serve as a source of energy. They are broken down in the intestine, absorbed by intestinal cells, and combined with cholesterol and proteins to form chylomicrons that are transported in lymph to the bloodstream.