Right column Indicates number of carbons and double bonds Wikipedia So-called trans fats arise as a chemical by-product of partial hydrogenation of vegetable oil. Biochemically, the double bonds found in fatty acids are predominantly in the cis configuration. The position of the double bond(s) in fatty acids has important considerations both for their synthesis and for their actions in the body. Plants are excellent sources of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Number of carbons in right column Wikipediaįatty acids with more than one double bond are called polyunsaturated. These properties carry over to the fats/oils containing them. Shorter tails also decrease melting temperature. Fatty acids with unsaturated tails have a lower melting temperature than those with saturated tails of the same length. Figures 2.190-2.194 show the most common saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid, by contrast has a straight hydrocarbon tail. Figure 2.191 - Arachidonic acid - A polyunsaturated fatty acid Wikipedia The effect of double bonds on the fatty acid tail is to introduce a kink, or bend, in the tail, as shown for oleic acid. Fatty acids with hydrocarbon tails that lack any double bonds are described as saturated, while those with one or more double bonds in their tails are known as unsaturated fatty acids. Fatty acids, as can be seen from Figure 2.190 are characterized by a polar head group and a long hydrocarbon tail. Found in fats, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and serving as as membrane anchors for proteins and other biomolecules, fatty acids are important for energy storage, membrane structure, and as precursors of most classes of lipids. The most ubiquitous lipids in cells are the fatty acids. \)įatty acids Figure 2.190 - Saturated fatty acid (stearic acid) and unsaturated fatty acid (oleic acid)
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