An essential structural component of living cells, lipids are a class of oily organic compounds which are insoluble in water but soluble in fats and oils. The lipid class of molecules mainly consists of fats, oils and waxes.
Important lipids include fatty acids (saturated and unsaturated). They are a component of phospholipids and fats :
- phospholipids, main component of biological membranes composed of glycerol phosphate backbone, fatty acid substituents, and hydrophobic headgroups
- sterols, cholesterol derived membrane components, (sex) hormones, and bile salts (intestinal detergents).
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