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B io F actsheet April 1999 Number 42 1 The Structure and Function of Lipids All lipids are polymers ? long chains of repeating units joined together in a condensation reaction during which water is released. The commonest lipids are triglycerides ? three fatty acids and glycerol linked by an ester bond (Fig 1). This Factsheet summarises the structure and function of lipids. Lipids are organic compounds found in every type of plant and animal cell. They always contain the elements carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, but the reletive amount of oxygen is less than in carbohydrates. cells in plant roots forces water into the symplast pathway which is under the control of the nucleus. This strip therefore gives the plant control over substances entering the xylem. 7. Buoyancy
