In the next weeks we plan to introduce different lipid classes, and sometimes even selected species. We will describe structure and main functions.
Fatty acids structure consists of a hydrocarbon chain of variable length with a carboxyl group. The hydrocarbon chain of fatty acids may further contain multiple double bonds, it can be branched or linear, and may feature oxygen containing substituents, such as hydroxyl groups or further carboxyl groups.
Fatty acids are present in all living organisms. Fatty acids can be in free form or linked to complex lipids such as phospholipids. They serve as major building blocks of lipids and thus the precise composition of their hydrocarbon chain fundamentally impacts numerous biological processes. In general, fatty acids serve as the main fuel for cellular energy and are an essential element of animal diet.
Here you can read more about the analysis of fatty acids performed at Lipotype:
#FattyAcids #lipid #lipidomics #MassSpectrometry
