Chemistry for Everyone
Lipid Wordsearch Terry L. Helser Department of Chemistry, SUNY College at Oneonta, Oneonta, NY 13820-4015; helsertl@oneonta. edu
This puzzle contains 37 names, terms, prefixes and acronyms that describe lipids. They may be in any linear direction. Find and highlight these terms in the matrix below. “TRIACYLGLYCEROL” is already done for you. Then, correctly transfer them to the blanks in the description below the matrix. Use the letters remaining in the matrix to complete the sentence describing these molecules. Your success will be rewarded. The answers to the Lipid Wordsearch are found below. Good hunting!
N I D N A L G A T S O R P
F P A O S T E R O L P H N
A O C L T R S T E R O I D
T R Y Y P I U O L S L E S
T E L T H A E L P E Y D D
Y T F E E C L H Y L I I T
L S A C W Y O M I P U L E
A E T A E L O N I L N O R
I A X I I G O L F T S R P
T C T P N L X S M Y A E E
N I I I E Y I T O F T T N
E D H N B C D E S I U S E
S P A S F E A A A N R E R
S T S N A R T R I O A L P
E T A E L O I A C P T O O
S D I P I L O T I A E H S
L A N O L I N E F S D C I
Use the remaining 16 letters to fill in the following sentence:
TRIACYLGLYCEROLs are E_ _ __ s of P__ ___ __ _, S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ , and O_ _ _ _ _ with glycerol. S_ _ _ _ _ _ _ them to make S_ _ _. B_ _ _ O_ __ _ __ _ _ cleaves their _ _ _ _C_ _ s into A_ _ _ _ _-_ _ _ s. The E_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ F_ _ _ _ A_ _ _s include _ _ _ __ __ _ _ and _ _ __ __ N_ _ _ , which are P_ __ U_ _ ___ __ __ _ with 2 or 3 C__ double bonds. They are precursors for P_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hormones and maintain F_ _ _ _ M_ _ _ _ _ membranes as part of P_ ___ __ __ ___ _ and S___ __ _M_ _ ___ . Hydrogenating such L_ _ __ _ makes O___ , which can contain T__ __ double bonds. L___ ___ is a W__ . Polymers of I___ ____ form the T_ _ __ __ s and other simple L__ _ __ like the S_ ___ _, C_ __ ___ __ __, and _ _ ___ _D hormones.
_ _ _
_ _
_ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ .
for
FAT IS THE FUEL for LIFE. N I D N A L G A T S O R P
F P A O S T E R O L P H N
A O C L T R S T E R O I D
T R Y Y P I U O L S L E S
T E L T H A E L P E Y D D
Y T F E E C L H Y L I I T
L S A C W Y O M I P U L E
A E T A E L O N I L N O R
I A X I I G O L F T S R P
T C T P N L X S M Y A E E
N I I I E Y I T O F T T N
E D H N B C D E S I U S E
S P A S F E A A A N R E R
S T S N A R T R I O A L P
E T A E L O I A C P T O O
S D I P I L O T I A E H S
L A N O L I N E F S D C I
TRIACYLGLYCEROLs are ESTERs of PALMITATE, STEARATE, and OLEATE with glycerol. SAPONIFY them to make SOAP. BETA OXIDATION cleaves their ACYL-COAs into ACETYL-COAs. The ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDs include LINOLEATE and LINOLENATE, which are POLYUNSATURATED with 2 or 3 CIS double bonds. They are precursors for PROSTAGLANDIN hormones and maintain FLUID MOSAIC membranes as part of PHOSPHOLIPIDS and SPHINGOMYELIN. Hydrogenating such LIPIDS makes OLEO, which can contain TRANS double bonds. LANOLIN is a WAX. Polymers of ISOPRENE form the TERPENEs and other simple LIPIDS like the STEROL, CHOLESTEROL, and STEROID hormones.
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 77 No. 4 April 2000 • Journal of Chemical Education
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