Lipid metabolism

Lipid metabolism is the synthesis and degradation of lipids in cells.

[Please see Fatty Acid Metabolism if this page isn't sufficient for your needs].

Lipid metabolism is the break down or storage of fats for energy; these fats are obtained from consuming food and absorbing them or they are synthesized by an animal's liver. Lipid metabolism does exist in plants, though the processes differ in some ways when compared to animals[example: Plants don't have livers, just like they don't have a heart or a pancreas]. Lipogenesis is the process of synthesizing these fats. Lipid metabolism often begins with hydrolysis, which occurs when a chemical breaks down as a reaction to coming in contact with water.Since lipids (fats) are "hydrophobic" [a wordplay on Hydrophobia, which is a fear of water], hydrolysis in lipid metabolism occurs in the cytoplasm which ends up creating glycerol and fatty acids. Due to the hydrophobic nature of lipids they require special transport proteins known as lipoproteins, which are hydrophilic [the opposite of hydrophobic, molecules that are hydrophilic are often referred to be "water loving" molecules]. Lipoproteins are categorized by their density levels. The varying densities between the types of lipoproteins are characteristic to what type of fats they transport. A number of these lipoproteins are synthesized in the liver, but not all of them originate from this organ,

The types of lipids involved include:

• Bile salts
• Cholesterols
• Eicosanoids
• Glycolipids
• Ketone bodies
• Fatty acids - see also fatty acid metabolism
• Phospholipids
• Sphingolipids
• Steroid - see also steroidogenesis
• Triacylglycerols (fats) - see also lipolysis and lipogenesis

External links

• Lipid metabolism at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
• Ophardt, Charles E. (2003) Lipid Catabolism Summary. Virtual Chembook. Elmhurst College.
• King, Michael W. Fatty Acid, Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acid, Triglyceride, and Phospholipid Synthesis and Metabolism. The Medical Biochemistry Page.
• Breaking news and clinical trials about Lipid and Metabolism
• [1] in Lipid Metabolism and Sites of Action of Lipid-Modifying Drugs (Not Statins)