The Lipid Metabolism section contains posts/pages on the basic biochemistry of biological lipids, the biosynthesis and catabolism of fatty acids, the synthesis of triglycerides, the synthesis of cholesterol, the synthesis and metabolism of the lipoproteins, the synthesis of bile acids, the synthesis of complex bioactive lipids such as the various eicosanoids, the clinically relevant omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and diseases that result from defects in the various pathways of lipid synthesis and catabolism. Additional posts/pages included in this section cover metabolism of the endocannabinoids and the metabolism of ethanol (alcohol).
Last Updated: October 23, 2024 Phospholipid Structures Phospholipids are synthesized by esterification of an alcohol to the phosphate of phosphatidic acid (1,2-diacylglycerol 3-phosphate) or through the remodeling of lysophospholipids. Most phospholipids have a...
Last Updated: November 20, 2024 Introduction to the Synthesis of Triglycerides Fatty acids are stored for future use as triglycerides (TG; also termed triacylglycerides, TAG) in all cells, but primarily in adipocytes of adipose tissue. Triglycerides constitute...
Last Updated: October 21, 2024 Introduction to Sphingosine and the Ceramides The sphingolipids, like the phospholipids, are composed of a polar head group and two nonpolar tails. The core of sphingolipids is the long-chain amino alcohol, sphingosine. The...
Last Updated: November 5, 2024 Introduction to Lipid Synthesis Pathways All cells possess the capacity to synthesize fatty acids and phospholipids as a means to ensure continuous integrity of existing membranes as well as in the synthesis of new membranes. However,...
Last Updated: December 11, 2024 Pathways of Ethanol Metabolism Ethanol is a small two carbon alcohol that, due to its small size and alcoholic hydroxyl group is soluble in both aqueous and lipid environments. This allows ethanol to freely pass from bodily fluids into...
Last Updated: May 1, 2024 Krill The term Krill is derived from the Norwegian description for "young fry of fish". Krill are marine crustaceans that belong to the order Euphausiacea. Although there are many species of Krill only Antarctic Krill (Euphausia superba)...
Last Updated: October 30, 2024 Introduction to the Endocannabinoids The discovery of the endocannabinoids came about as a result of the identification of the major psychoactive component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC, or just THC). Marijuana is...
Last Updated: September 10, 2024 Introduction to Lipid Mediators of Inflammation Lipid mediators of inflammation belong to the large family of bioactive lipids termed oxylipins. Oxylipins are derived from omega-6 and omega-3 PUFA as well as from the essential fatty...
Last Updated: November 7, 2024 Introduction to Bioactive Lipids and Their Receptors Originally fats were generally considered mere sources of energy and as components of biological membranes. Aside from the eicosanoids (from Ancient Greek eíkosi for 20) few...
Last Updated: September 10, 2024 Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) The term omega, as it relates to fatty acids, refers to the terminal carbon atom farthest from the functional carboxylic acid group (–COOH). The designation of a polyunsaturated...