Category Core structure Classes/Subclasses
Fatty acyls Fatty acids and conjugates, Fatty esters, fatty alcohols, Fatty amides, eicosanoids
Glycerolipids Monoacylglycerols, Monogalactosyldiacylglycerols,
Diacylglycerols,
Digalactosyldiacylglycerols,
Triacylglycerols
Glycerophospholipids Phosphatidic acids, Phosphatidylethanolamine,
Phosphatidylcholine,
Phosphatidylglycerols, Phosphatidylserines,
Phosphatidylinositols, Cardiolipins
Sphingolipids Ceramides, sphingosines,
Sphingosine-1-phosphates, Gangliosidemannoside 3, Sphingomyelins Sulfatides
Sterol lipids Cholesterols,
Cholesteryl esters,
Cholesteryl sulfates,
Steroids,
Bile acids
Prenol lipids Isoprenoids,
Polyprenoids,
Quinines,
Hydroquinines,
Saccharolipids Acylaminosugars,
Acylaminosugarglycans,
Acyltrehaloses,
Acyltrehalosesglycans
Polyketides Macrolide polyketides,
Aromatic polyketides,
Non-ribosomal peptide/polyketide hybrids
Table 1: Categories, classes and subclasses of lipids.