Ts used in cholesterol
Lipid
HDL cholesterol is considered good cholesterol and it actively removes bad cholesterol. HDL cholesterol levels greater than 60 milligrams is considered good but lower than 40 milligrams is considered bad.
No, cholesterol is a lipid molecule itself and does not contain fatty acids. Cholesterol is a sterol molecule, while fatty acids are long hydrocarbon chains with a carboxylic acid functional group.
Polarity occurs when there are un-bonded electrons within the molecule. Without the alcohol functional group, the cholesterol molecule would be non-polar. However, since there is an alcohol functional group, the oxygen's extra electrons cause this molecule to be polar. This alcohol functional group allows the possiblility of linking with other molecules using an ester or hydroxyl bond.
Energy storage.
Cholesterol is a big molecule, C27H46O. However, it is a single molecule, and thus a monomer. In cells cholesterol is normally embedded in cell membrane and makes hydrogen bonds with surrounding molecules. In the blood, it is also not found alone, but packaged with lipids (triglycerides) and lipoproteins. Thus when looking at cholesterol levels in the blood, people often refer to HDLs and LDLs. The proteins in HDLs and LDLs are also discrete units with a specific structure, but they are considered to be polymers of amino acids.
LDL cholesterol is often referred to as "bad" cholesterol because high levels can contribute to the buildup of plaque in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke. In contrast, HDL cholesterol is considered "good" cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the bloodstream, reducing the risk of heart disease.
cholesterol
No, cholesterol is an organic molecule because it contains carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms. Inorganic molecules, on the other hand, typically do not contain carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Cholesterol is the most important steroid molecule because it serves as a precursor for the synthesis of other essential steroids in the body, including hormones like cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. Additionally, cholesterol is a key component of cell membranes and plays a crucial role in maintaining cell structure and function.
Vitamin D is produced in the skin upon exposure to sunlight. Specifically, a cholesterol molecule in the skin undergoes a series of chemical reactions to form Vitamin D.