ABSTRACT
The structural basis of one group of lipids is glycerol. It is an alcohol and one of the most important molecules to learn. Fatty acids are long carbon chain with a carboxyl group at one end. Some have no double bonds between the carbons in their structure and others have double bonds. If there are no double bonds, then the molecule has as many hydrogen atoms attached to it as is possible. The most common components of cell membranes are variants of triacylglycerols, the phosphoglycerides or glycerophospholipids. The product formed is diacylglycerol phosphate, commonly referred to as phosphatidic acid. An important aspect of phospholipids in cell membranes is that they can be acted upon by phospholipases. These catalyse the hydrolysis of phospholipids at particular sites. The body prefers to use fatty acids from the diet rather than make them because to make them uses an enormous amount of energy.
