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Table 1 Lipid components in eggs and their physiological roles during embryogenesis

From: Hatching egg polyunsaturated fatty acids and the broiler chick

Neutral lipids (e.g. Triacylglycerol)

Energy metabolism, signal transduction, and function as precursors to other glycerophospholipids

Phospholipids*

Structural component of cell membranes

Serving as enzyme substrates for lipoprotein metabolism

Serving as ligands for receptors,

Signal transduction,

Supplier of polyunsaturated fatty acids that serves as precursors of different lipid mediators and essential biomolecule.

Anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties

Intracellular traffickers of cholesterol

Sterols

Sterols such as cholesterol and cholesterol ester are involved in lipoprotein assembly and transport of yolk lipids to embryonic tissues.

  1. *Phospholipids include: phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, lysophosphatidylcholine, lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin