What are the fatty compounds/derivatives which store energy, signal, and provide structure in the cells of living things?
Lipid biochemical intermediates such as wax esters, fatty acid thioester coenzyme A derivatives, fatty acid thioester ACP derivatives and fatty acid carnitines. The fatty amides include N-acyl ethanolamines, such as the cannabinoid neurotransmitter anandamide. Glycerolipids are composed of mono-, di-, and tri-substituted glycerols, the best-known being the fatty acid triesters of glycerol, called triglycerides. The word "triacylglycerol" is sometimes used synonymously with "triglyceride". In these compounds, the three hydroxyl groups of glycerol are each esterified, typically by different fatty acids. Because they function as an energy store, these lipids comprise the bulk of storage fat in animal tissues. The hydrolysis of
Saturated and unsaturated compounds Saturated and unsaturated compounds In organic chemistry, a saturated compound is a chemical compound that has single bonds. Saturated compounds only possess carbon-carbon single bonds. Saturated compounds are generally more stable and less reactive than unsaturated compounds since no steric hindrances and no major polarity differences occur. In addition, they have very low melting and boiling points relative to their molar mass. Unsaturated compounds are organic-chemical compounds whose molecular structure contains one or more carbon-carbon double bonds or triple bonds. These can also be conjugated. Examples are the unsaturated fatty acids or unsaturated hydrocarbons (alkenes and alkynes). Many natural products