lipoprotein
UK[ˌlɪpəʊˈprəʊtiːn]US[ˌlɪpoʊˈproʊtiːn]
n
A biochemical compound consisting of a protein combined with a lipid, such as a triglyceride or cholesterol, which allows fats to be transported in the bloodstream.
Morpheme Breakdown
lipo
protein
lipo
fat
protein
protein
Etymology
The word 'lipoprotein' is a modern scientific compound, transparently constructed from two international scientific vocabulary roots. The first element, 'lipo-', is derived from the ancient Greek word 'lipos' (λίπος), which meant animal fat or grease. The second element, 'protein', has a more complex journey; it originates from the Greek 'prōtos' (πρῶτος), meaning "first," reflecting the early 19th-century belief that proteins were the primary substance of life. The compound term was logically formed to name a molecule that is literally a complex of a lipid (fat) and a protein, describing its essential structure and function in transporting water-insoluble fats through the aqueous environment of blood and lymph.
Analysis
Structure: lipo (fat) + protein (protein)
- lipo: From Greek 'lipos', meaning "fat". It functions as a combining form denoting a relationship to lipids or fats.
- protein: From French 'protéine', from Greek 'prōteios' meaning "primary" or "of the first quality". It functions as the core noun denoting a class of complex organic molecules essential to life.
Examples
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is often called "good" cholesterol because it helps remove other forms of cholesterol from your bloodstream.
A blood test can measure your levels of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL.
Lipoprotein(a) is a specific type of particle that is considered an independent risk factor for heart disease.