Lipids, Fats, and Biochemistry

Docosahexaenoic acid is produced by marine alga Crypthecodinium cohnii. It is used in baby foods.

This is true. The fermentation technology used for the production of single-cell oils is very expensive.

Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are the basis of life as they store and transmit genetic information. While proteins are essential, they are products of nucleic acids, making nucleic acids the fundamental basis.

The soil fungus Mortierella alpina is used for the production of oils rich in arachidonic acid.

α-Parinaric acid occurs naturally in the seeds of the makita tree. Both the alpha and beta (all trans) isomers of parinaric acid are used as molecular probes of lipid-lipid interactions by monitoring phase transitions in bilayer lipid membranes. α-Parinaric acid was shown to integrate normally into the phospholipid bilayer of mammalian cells.

Thromboxane A2 is a thromboxane. It is produced by activated platelets and has prothrombotic properties. It stimulates activation of new platelets as well as increases platelet aggregation.

Amphiphile is a term describing a chemical compound possessing both hydrophilic (water-loving, polar) and lipophilic (fat-loving) properties. Such a compound is called amphiphilic or amphipathic.

Amino acids link together through peptide bonds to form proteins, making them the fundamental building blocks of all proteins. Fats are built from fatty acids and glycerol, vitamins are organic micronutrients, and sugars are carbohydrates - none of which are made from amino acids.

Enzymes are biological catalysts made primarily of proteins. They are composed of amino acids arranged in specific 3D structures that allow them to speed up biochemical reactions. While most enzymes are proteins, some RNA molecules also have catalytic activity (ribozymes), but in general, enzymes are protein-based.

Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins. Proteins (D) are the correct building blocks of enzymes. Carbohydrates, fats, and lipids are other important biomolecules but do not form enzymes.

Yolk contains proteins and fats along with traces of glycogen.

Hydrophilic groups are molecular structures that have an affinity for water. They are typically polar or ionized, allowing them to form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. These groups can be found in various compounds including fatty acids, where the carboxyl group is hydrophilic while the hydrocarbon chain is hydrophobic.

Erucic acid (C₂₂H₄₂O₂) is a monoethenoid acid, that is the cis isomer of brassidic acid and makes up about 40-50% of the total fatty acid; crystalizes as needles from alcohol solution. It is soluble in ethanol and methanol.

Schizochytrium is a genus of unicellular protists found in coastal marine habitats. They are assigned to the stramenopiles, a group which also contains kelp and various of micro-algae. Certain species produce large amounts of docosahexaenoic acid and are grown commercially for production of this oil for biofeeds, biomass and biofuels.