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Biology > 1.1 Biochemistry > Flashcards

1.1 Biochemistry Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the most common elements in living organisms?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen (C H O N)

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2
Q

What are the roles of magnesium, calcium, iron and phosphates in cell metabolism?

A

Phosphates - strengthening bones
Calcium - strengthening bones
Iron - component of haemoglobin
Magnesium - component of chlorophyll

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3
Q

Why is water essential to life?

A

All reactions rely on water

Key elements are often found in aqueous solution

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4
Q

Describe and explain water’s properties.

A

Polar - it is a solvent
Hydrogen bonds (H-O-H^d+ /////// H^d+-O-H)
–These bonds give water unusual properties like a low Mr so is a gas at room temperature
Anomylous expansion - it expands when frozen meaning ice has a low density. It floats and acts as a layer of insulation for the water beneath where organisms may live
Surface tension creates a habitat eg for pond skaters and mosquito larvae
High specific heat - it requires lots of energy to heat it so large bodies of water remain at a stable temperature all year
High latent heat - Needs lots of energy to change state which makes it good for regulating body temperature eg sweating
Transparent - light can reach the sea bed
Chemical reactions - photosynthesis reactant, also hydrolysis eg in digestion

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5
Q

What is the difference between a monomer and a polymer?

A

A monomer is a single unit

A polymer is multiple monomers joined together

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6
Q

What are condensation reactions and hydrolysis?

A

Condensation reactions combine small molecules and produce water
Hydrolysis breaks down large molecules by putting water back into them

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7
Q

What do carbohydrates consist of, what is the general formula for them and what are their monomers and polymers called?

A
  • Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
  • Cx(H2O)y
  • monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides
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8
Q

How are monosaccharides named?

A

The number of carbon atoms they contain:
3C = triose
5C = pentose
6C = hexose

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9
Q

Draw glucose in straight chain and ring form

A

Straight chain:
6 Carbons in a row, one end is CHO, one end is CH2OH. The rest have 1 H & 1 OH on each. Next to CHO is OH on right, H on left, next C is the other way around, the next two are the same as the one after CHO.
Ring form:
5 carbons & 1 oxygen in a ring. Off C1 is H above for alpha, OH below and other way for beta. C2 has H above & OH below, C3 has OH above & H below, C4 has H above & OH below, C5 has a CH2OH branching off

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10
Q

How are disaccharides formed? Give an example.

A

Condensations reactions joining 2 monosaccharides.

2 x alpha glucose to make maltose + water

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11
Q

What are the uses of monosaccharides and disaccharides?

A

Monosaccharides join together to make more complex carbohydrates.
Disaccharides are used for transport withing the body.

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12
Q

What are the differences between alpha and beta glucose?

A

In alpha glucose, the H on C1 is above it, in beta, the H is below.
Alpha glucose join to make starch
Beta glucose join to make cellulose

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13
Q

What bonds help maintain shape in biological molecules?

A

Hydrogen bonds

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14
Q

Draw a diagram of chitin’s ring form and structural diagram.
What is chitin?
What are it’s properties and uses?

A

Ring form:
Beta glucose but instead of CH2OH it is C with an amide group
Structure:
Like bricks but with gaps in the down bits where there are covalent bonds. These bonds make it stronger than cellulose
Chitin is a polysaccharide derivative
It is waterproof and lightweight
Used for fungal cell walls and insect exoskeletons

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15
Q

Draw a diagram of cellulose

A

Like bricks but gaps in the down bits (microfibrils) where there are hydrogen bonds. The huge number of these bonds makes it strong.
Every other beta glucose residue is rotated 180 degrees which makes it a straight chain

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16
Q

Draw a diagram of a starch molecule

A

helix labelled as amylose
More helix’ branching off, labelled as amylopectin.
Joined by 1.6 glycocidic bonds
All alpha glucose molecules are lined the same way and this created the curl because they are slightly twisted

17
Q

Draw a diagram of a glycogen molecule

A

Just like starch but with much more amylopectin

Alpha glucose

18
Q

What are the uses of starch, chitin, cellulose and glycogen?

A

Starch and glycogen - storage

Cellulose and chitin - structure

19
Q

What elements make up lipid molecules?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen (and phosphate in phospholipids)

20
Q

Compare oils and fats

A 
Oils:
plants
lower melting point
immiscible with H2O (doesn't dissolve)
energy storage
protection
Fats:
animals
higher melting point
immiscible with H2O (doesn't dissolve)
insulation
energy storage
protection
21
Q

Describe the structure of triglycerides

A 
3 fatty acids and 1 glycerole
no charge (non-polar)
hydrophobic
carboxylic acid
unsaturation (C=C present in oils)
saturated (no C=C in fats)
22
Q

Why are lipids used for energy storage and not carbohydrates?

A

Lipids have a higher yield of energy per gram

23
Q

What are the products of lipid hydrolysis?

A

Fatty acids and glycerol

24
Q

What are phospholipids?

A

Triglycerides with a phosphate group substituted for one of the fatty acids

25
Q

Are glycerol and fatty acids hydrophilic or hydrophobic?

A

Glycerol is hydrophilic

Fatty acids are hydrophobic

26
Q

What can a high intake of saturated fats contribute to?

A

Heart disease

27
Q

Draw and label a basic diagram of a phospholipid.

A 
Head:
phosphate
polar hydrophilic
3 Tails:
hydrocarbons
non-polar
hydrophobic
28
Q

What is the general formula for amino acids?

A

R (R single bond with C)
O=C-N-H
OH/ \H

29
Q

Draw the carboxyle and amino groups.

A 
Carboxyle:
C=O
  \OH
Amino: 
N-H
  \H
30
Q

What are proteins?

A

Polymers of amino acids

Each with a different R groups

31
Q

What is polymerisation?

A

Occurs by condensation reaction (H2O created)
Peptide bonds between a C and an N
Creates dipeptides and polypeptides

32
Q

What are the names of the structures shown in proteins?

A

Primary, secondary, tertiary and quarternary

33
Q

What is the primary structure?

A

Type, number and sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chine
Controlled by sequences in DNA

34
Q

Describe the secondary structure of proteins.

A

The shape taken on by the primary structure.

Alpha helix held in shape by hydrogen bonds

35
Q

What is the protein tertiary structure?

A

3D shape that occurs when the polypeptide chain fold in on itself
Specific 3D shape

36
Q

What bonds maintain the 3D shape of the tertiary structure?

A 
Cystein bonds
Sulphur bridges (disulphide bonds)
Ionic bods
Hydrogen bonds
they are between R-groups projecting from the helix
37
Q

What is the quarternary structure?

A

2 or more tertiary form polypeptide chains combine eg haemoglobin

Biology (13 decks)

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