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Dictionary » L » Lipid

Lipid

Definition

noun, plural: lipids

A fatty or waxy organic compound that is readily soluble in nonpolar solvent (e.g. ether) but not in polar solvent (e.g water). Its major biological functions involve energy storage, structural component of cell membrane, and cell signaling.


Supplement

Examples of lipids are waxes, oils, sterols, cholesterol, fat-soluble vitamins, monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides (fats), and phospholipids.

Fatty acids (including fats) are a subgroup of lipids, hence, it will be inaccurate to consider the terms synonymous.


Word origin: French lipide ยป Greek lipos, fat.

Related forms: lipidic (adjective).
Related terms: glycolipids, lipid a, lipid bilayer, lipid granulomatosis, lipid peroxidation, lipid pneumonia, lipid profile, phospholipids, sphingolipids

Compare: fatty acid.


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Re: Lipid Bilayers vs Micelles

... heads / hydrophobic tails is to form micelles, because this is the simplest structure that maximizes hydrophobic/philic interaction. In phospholipids, however, the hydrophobic tails have a greater cross-sectional area than the heads, and so they cannot form stable micelles - in other words, ...

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by squillss
Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:34 am
 
Forum: Molecular Biology
Topic: Lipid Bilayers vs Micelles
Replies: 3
Views: 3887

Can particle size affect spectrophotometry?

Hey guys, I'm not sure where else to put this...doesn't seem to fit anywhere else. But if you have a lipid sample in a cuvette, I know that changing the concentration will affect the absorbance readings. But what about particle size? For example, I was working with two different ...

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by keetner
Thu Nov 29, 2012 3:24 am
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Can particle size affect spectrophotometry?
Replies: 1
Views: 284

Theories - Origin of Life

... interface. It is an ancient, several billion years ago the development of brilliant engineering. Engineers - "active models the situation in lipid membranes". Thus, the question of the origin of life, it is a question of the origin of those ancient membrane-engineers! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=364404846962684&set=a.364404780296024.79961.100001795141602&type=1&theater

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by LeoPol
Thu Sep 27, 2012 10:01 am
 
Forum: Evolution
Topic: Theories - Origin of Life
Replies: 548
Views: 534352

what is the relationship between hemolysis & molecular weigh

is it true that as the lipid water partition coefficient increases, the permeability of lipid increases and the permeability of water lowers. does that mean that a substance w/ a high lipid water partition coeffecient will be able to ...

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by Fa23
Sat Sep 22, 2012 11:35 pm
 
Forum: Physiology
Topic: what is the relationship between hemolysis & molecular weigh
Replies: 1
Views: 947

Please help with my work

... contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water ( H20). b) Amino acids do not contain nitrogen c) Fish is a good source of protein and lipid,but not carbohydrate. d) Keratin is a protein found in egg white e) Amino acids are required to make fatty acids f) The biuret test indicates ...

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by Olympic
Mon Jul 23, 2012 2:17 pm
 
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Please help with my work
Replies: 6
Views: 3963
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