Unsaturated monoacid triacylglycerols

The triacylglycerols are named in various ways. For example, unsaturated fatty acids sometimes are indicated as U and the saturated as S. If glycerol is completely esterified with stearic acid, the resulting monoacid triacylglycerol may be designated as SSS, or, more descriptively as StStSt, tristearin, tristearoyl-glycerol, or glycerol tristearate. 

Fig. 34.1. Drawings of two- and three-chain triacylglycerol layers (a) saturated monoacid SSS-type (b) saturated symmetrical PSP-type where 2 chain differs from 1 and 3 chains in length (c) symmetrical POP-type where 2 chain is unsaturated and (d) symmetrical OPO-type where 1 and 3 chains are unsaturated. Crystals grow in bilayer units.

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