http://www.ck12.org Chapter 26. Biochemistry
effective way of decreasing cholesterol formation in the body.
Lesson Summary
- Lipids are a diverse class of relatively nonpolar biomolecules that generally do not dissolve well in water.
Common types of lipids include fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids. - Lipoproteins transport lipids in the bloodstream.
- Triglycerides can be broken down into fatty acids, which can be further metabolized to produce acetyl CoA.
- Acetyl CoA acts as a common intermediate for many metabolic pathways. It can be broken down further as a
source of energy or used as a building block to generate more complex molecules. - Elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause arterial damage, which may lead to a heart attack.
Lesson Review Questions
- List four classes of lipids and their functions in the body.
- How are triglycerides digested in the small intestine?
- What are the functions of LDL and HDL?
- How can stored triglycerides be used for biochemical energy?
- How does high cholesterol contribute to a heart attack?
Further Reading/Supplementary Links
- Tutorial on lipid metabolism: http://nfs.uvm.edu/nfs-new/activities/tutorials/lipid.html
- Cholesterol and heart disease: http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-lower-cholesterol-
risk