Are fatty acids lipids?

Fatty acids, or fatty acid residues when they are part of a lipid, are a diverse group of molecules synthesized by chain-elongation of an acetyl-CoA primer with malonyl-CoA or methylmalonyl-CoA groups in a process called fatty acid synthesis. read more

The properties of fatty acids and of lipids derived from them are markedly dependent on chain length and degree of saturation. Unsaturated fatty acids have lower melting points than saturated fatty acids of the same length. read more

Trans-unsaturated fatty acids can pack more tightly and are more likely to be solid at room temperature. Some types of shortening, for example, contain a high fraction of trans fats 3 ^3 3 start superscript, 3, end superscript. read more

Among the most biologically significant properties of lipids are their hydrophobic properties. These properties are mainly due to a particular component of lipids: fatty acids, or simply fats. read more