Question

Match the molecules with as many terms in the list as applicable. Some terms may be used more than once.

Triacylglycerols: __________________________

Phospholipids: ____________________________

Sphingomyelins: __________________________

Cholesterol: ______________________________

A. Non-polar lipids

B. Polar lipids

C. Found stored in adipocytes

D. Contains a glycerol backbone

E. Insulate nerve axons

F. Lipids found in biological membranes

Answer 1

Triacylglycerols: are ester derived from glycerol and three fatty acids. Fatty acids have long non-polar hydrocarbon chain. Therefore triacylglycerols have polar head and non-polar tail. We will call them non-polar overall.

Fatty acids are stored primarily in adipocytes as triacylglycerol.

Triacylglycerols contains a glycerol backbone.

Hence A, C and D match for Triacylglycerols

Phospholipids: are the molecules which in plasma menbrane or biological membrane. They are insoluble in water, hence are non-polar

Therefore A, D and F match for Phospholipids

Sphingomyelins: Not synthesized from glycerol and play significant roles in signaling pathways. They found in animal cell membrane. They have no net charge.

Therefore A, E match for Sphingomyelins

Cholesterol: are non-polar in nature, essential structural component of all animal (not plant or bacterial) cell membranes. It Insulate nerve axons

A, E and F match for cholestrol.