Lipids, 1986 Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Nutrition

For a number of years, we have been teaching a course on the chemical, meta­ bolic, and nutritional aspects of lipids to graduate and postdoctoral students in the health sciences at the University ofCalifornia, Los Angeles. The course was taught in an "open-ended" manner-that is, after each subject was introduced, a discussion was continued for as long as necessary to explore thoroughly its cur­ rent status. It became evident that no text was available that could supplement the lectures adequately. This book is an attempt to remedy the deficiency and to treat extensively-although not exhaustively-most aspects of lipids, ranging from their physical and chemical properties, through biochemistry and metabolic pathways, to their role in nutrition. It is intended, as were the lectures, for those who have a basic knowledge of biochemistry, but wish to increase their know­ ledge of lipids. These may include graduate or advanced students, investigators preparing to enter research in lipids, clinicians, and, indeed, all those who may profit by an increased awareness ofthe importance oflipids. Although most of the subjects treated are given adequate references, it was not our intention that this book would be a complete reference source. Rather, those publications cited are deemed by the authors of each chapter to be impor­ tant and to lead to further reading. Inevitably, many more references are given for those subjects in which rapid advances are now being made than for those that are somewhat more static.

Table of Contents Chapter 1.- 1 Introduction.- 2 Solubility and the Definition of Lipids.- 3 Nature of the Fatty Acids: The Carboxyl and Hydrocarbon Moieties.- 4 Fatty Acids: Crystals, Monomolecular Films, and Soaps.- 5 Distribution of Fatty Acids in the Tissue Lipids.- Appendix: A note on the structure and naming of the fatty acids.- 6 Peroxidation of Fatty Acids.- 7 Catabolism of the Fatty Acids.- 8 Biosynthesis of Fatty Acids.- 9 Desaturation of Fatty Acids—The Essential Fatty Acids.- 10 Prostaglandins, Thromboxanes, and Prostacyclin.- 11 Eicosanoids: Leukotrienes and Slow-Reacting Substances of Anaphylaxis.- 12 Digestion and Absorption of Lipids.- 13 Transport and Reactions of Lipids in the Blood.- 14 Triacylglycerol Metabolism and the Reactions of Adipose Tissue.- 15 Biosynthesis of Cholesterol and Related Substances.- 16 The Amphiphilic Lipids: Structure, Properties, and Conformation.- 17 Phosphoglyceride Metabolism.- 18 Sphingolipid Metabolism.- 19 Nutritional Value of Lipids.