The AOCS Lipid Library

ABOUT LIPIDS

Lipids are a diverse range of compounds for which no agreed definition exists. In the first of the articles below, we define lipids as fatty acids and their derivatives, and substances related biosynthetically or functionally to these compounds. A general summary of the chemistry, occurrence, composition and biology of these essential and fascinating natural compounds is presented here. It is hoped that the reading lists at the end of these essays will provide for advanced biochemists, who might otherwise find my approach too simple.

PDF files of each topic are available for download at the end of web-pages. Related lipids are grouped together in the documents listed below, but there are shortcuts to a full list of individual lipid classes here.

The first two articles describe in general terms what lipids are and why they are so important in nature. The second two outline some of the principle features of lipid compositions in nature.

The basics:	What is a lipid? - definitions, nomenclature, structures
	What lipids do - their biological functions
	Lipid compositions of animal tissues - - Dec. 17th, 2009
	Lipid compositions of plants and microorganisms - - Dec. 17th, 2009

Further documents are grouped into four main sections according to chemical structures, and they can be addressed from the following links -

• Fatty acids and eicosanoids
• Simple glycerolipids, sterols, lipoproteins, and others
• Complex glycerophospho- and glyceroglycolipids
• Sphingolipids

Lipid definitions and nomenclature - This subject is dealt with at many points in the above documents, but this webpage provides some basic information and points to some useful sources.

Analysis - this is only discussed briefly in this section, as there is much more elsewhere in the website.

	Scottish Crop Research Institute (and MRS Lipid Analysis Unit), Invergowrie, Dundee (DD2 5DA), Scotland.
Updated: Dec. 17th, 2009	Credits/disclaimer		© AOCS