Chapter 23, Problem 23.11QP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Structures of the bile salts cholate and chenodeoxycholate have to be drawn.

Concept Introduction:

The composition of bile that is synthesized in the liver and stored in the gall bladder includes micelles of lecithin, cholesterol, protein, inorganic ions, bile salts, and other pigments. The most common bile salts are derivatives of bile acids such as cholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid.

The cholesterol is composed of the steroid ring system. It is often referred as steroid nucleus that includes three six-membered rings fused to a five-membered ring.

Explanation of Solution

The structure of bile salt cholate that contains three hydroxyl groups attached at position 3, 7 and 12 is given as follows:

The structure of bile salt chenodeoxycholate differs only in the absence of the hydroxyl group that is present at position 12 in cholate illustrated as follows: