1. BIOLOGICAL MOLECULES Flashcards
explain monomers.
a single sugar which joins together through a condensation reaction with covalent bonds to form a polymer
give examples of monomers
- amino acids
- nucleotides
- monosaccharides
explain polymers
- made through the condensation of multiple monomers by the joining of covalent bonds
give examples of polymers (biological things in the body)
- proteins
- DNA
- starch
whats the bonds between polymers?
covalent
What are biological molecules?
molecules made and used by living organisms e.g. Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, DNA, ATP, Water, Inorganic Ions
whats the function of carbohydrates?
- energy source = glucose in respiration
- energy store = starch in plants, glycogen in animals
- structure = cellulose in cell walls of plants
What are the building blocks for carbohydrates called?
monosaccharides
Example of monosaccharides?
glucose (alpha and beta), galactose, fructose
The formula for monosaccharides?
C6H12O6 (isomers = same formula but different arrangement)
Difference between alpha and beta glucose?
on Carbon 1, alpha glucose has an OH group on the bottom and beta glucose has an OH group on the top
How are monosaccharides joined together?
Condensation reaction ( removing of water between 2 OH groups)
Bond in carbohydates?
glycosidic bond (1,4 – between carbon 1 and carbon 4)
Example of disaccharides?
- glucose + glucose = maltose
- glucose + galactose = lactose
- glucose + fructose = sucrose
The formula for disaccharides?
C12H22O11
How are polymers separated?
hydrolysis (add water)
What is a polysaccharide?
many monosaccharides joined by condensation reaction/glycosidic bond
Examples of polysaccharides?
- Starch (long chain of alpha glucose) which is energy store in plants
- Glycogen (long chain of alpha glucose) which is energy store in animals
- Cellulose (long chain of beta glucose) which makes cell walls in plants
What are Polysaccharides?
- carbohydrates
- made of long monosaccharides joined by condensation reaction with glycosidic bonds
3 examples of polysaccharides?
starch
glycogen
cellulose
What’s the function of the 3 polysaccharides?
- starch and glycogen are used as energy stores in plants and animals they are made out of many alpha glucose which is used for respiration
- cellulose is used to form cell walls in plants made out of many beta glucose
What’s the structure of starch?
- made from Amylose and Amylopectin
- Amylose = long straight chain of alpha-glucose which is coiled
- Amylopectin = straight chain of alpha-glucose with side branches (1,6-glycosidic bond)
Structure of Glycogen?
straight chain of alpha-glucose (1,4-glycosidic bond) with side branches (1,6-glycosidic bond)
Properties of Starch and Glycogen as energy stores?
- Insoluble = do not affect the water potential of the cell, does not diffuse out of the cell
- Coiled/Branched = compact, more can fit into a cell
- Branched/Chained = glucose removed from the end
Structure of Cellulose?
- β-glucose arranged in a straight chain (each alternative β-glucose is rotated 180 degrees) = cellulose straight chain
- many cellulose chains are cross-linked by hydrogen bonds to form macrofibrils
- many macrofibrils are cross-linked to form microfibrils
- forms structure of cell wall
- strong material (prevents plant cells from bursting or shrinking)
What’s the test for starch?
iodine test - add iodine drops to the solution if positive it turns blue/black
What is the test for reducing sugar?
heat with benedicts regent and if it’s positive then it turns brick red
What is the test for non-reducing sugar?
- heat with benedicts – no change
- therefore, add dilute hydrochloric acid (hydrolyses glycosidic bond)
- then add sodium hydrogen carbonate (neutralises solution)
- heat with Benedict - turns brick red
what are 2 types of protein?
globular and fibrous