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Related Concept Videos

What are Lipids?01:38

What are Lipids?

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Overview
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Lipids as Anchors01:32

Lipids as Anchors

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In the plasma membrane, the lipids forming the bilayer can also act as an anchor to tether proteins to the membrane. The three main types of lipid anchors found in eukaryotes are – prenyl groups, fatty acyl groups, and glycosylphosphatidylinositol or GPI groups. Prenyl and fatty acyl groups act as anchors on the cytosolic surface of the membrane, whereas GPI anchors proteins on the extracellular side.
The carboxy-terminal of most of the prenylated proteins, such as Ras proteins, contains...
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Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

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Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
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Biological membranes are more than just a barrier separating cell cytoplasm from the outside environment. They are highly dynamic and help maintain the integrity and physiological stability of the cells as well as membrane-bound organelles. Membranes also play vital roles in cell-to-cell and intracellular communication.
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Structure of Lipids03:38

Structure of Lipids

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Lipids include a diverse group of compounds that are largely nonpolar in nature. This is because they are hydrocarbons that include mostly nonpolar carbon-carbon or carbon-hydrogen bonds. Non-polar molecules are hydrophobic (“water fearing”), or insoluble in water. Lipids perform many different functions in a cell. Cells store energy for long-term use in the form of fats. Lipids also provide insulation from the environment for plants and animals. For example, they help keep aquatic...
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Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

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Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
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Related Experiment Video

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Author Spotlight: Separation of Coral Host Tissues and Algal Symbionts and Analyzing Their Metabolites
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Coral Lipids.

Andrey B Imbs1, Valery M Dembitsky2

  • 1A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, 17 Palchevsky Str., 690041 Vladivostok, Russia.

Marine Drugs
|October 27, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Coral lipids, including fatty acids and complex lipids, are vital secondary metabolites with significant pharmacological potential. This review details their diverse structures, biosynthesis, and symbiotic roles, highlighting their importance in marine ecosystems and medicine.

Keywords:
biosynthesischemotaxonomycoralfatty acidslipidsoxilipinszooxanthellae

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Determination of Total Lipid and Lipid Classes in Marine Samples
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Area of Science:

  • Marine Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Reef-building corals are ecologically crucial cornerstone species.
  • Corals possess a dual nature as symbiotic partners and autotrophic organisms.
  • They produce diverse secondary metabolites with pharmaceutical potential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide an exhaustive review of coral-derived lipids.
  • To explore the biochemical diversity and chemotaxonomy of these lipids.
  • To highlight the relevance of coral lipids in scientific endeavors.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of coral lipid research.
  • Analysis of lipid structures, including fatty acids, acyl derivatives, and polar lipids.
  • Examination of lipid profiles in symbiotic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium).

Main Results:

  • Detailed cataloging of ubiquitous and rare coral lipids: waxes, sterol esters, triacylglycerols, mono-akyl-diacylglycerols, betaine lipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids, phospholipids, and phosphonolipids.
  • Exploration of prostaglandins, cyclic, and acyclic oxilipins.
  • Insights into coral fatty acid synthesis and chemotaxonomy.

Conclusions:

  • Coral lipids represent a vast and intricate biochemical resource.
  • These compounds hold significant potential for pharmacological and medical applications.
  • Understanding coral lipid profiles is crucial for marine science and drug discovery.