- Primary respiratory substrate (glucose) - Energy storage (starch and glycogen) - Structural support (cellulose)

2 - Chemistry of Life Flashcards by Vishwam Chand

3 types of biological molecules

Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins

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Most living things are made of these 3 elements

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen

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Why are life forms carbon based?

Carbon bonds with everything very easily

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Important properties of water?

Universal solvent
Polar
Cohesive & adhesive
High specific heat capacity
Less dense when solid

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What elements are carbohydrates made of?

Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen

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Types of carbs and how they are classified

Classified by number of monomers

Monosaccharides
Disaccharides
Polysaccharides

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Examples of each type of carb

Monosacccharides: Glucose, ribose
Disaccharides: Sucrose, lactose
Polysaccharides: Glycogen, starch, cellulose

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Functions of carbs?

Primary respiratory substrate (glucose)
Energy storage (starch and glycogen)
Structural support (cellulose)

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Properties of monnosaccharides

Sweet & soluble
One monomer
General formula: (CH2O)n
Form crystals

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3 types of monosaccharides w/ examples

Triose (3n): Glyceraldehyde
Pentose (5n): Ribose, deoxyribose
Hexose (6n): Glucose, fructose

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Different sturctures of glucose?

Chain and ring

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How is ring glucose formed?

Carbons on opposite ends of the chain form a bond with an oxygen bridge

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Difference between α-glucose and ß-glucose?

In α-glucose, the hydroxyl group is below the plane of the molecule

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Is glucose a reducing or oxidizing sugar?

Reducing

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Properties of disaccharides

Made of 2 monomers
E.g. maltose, lactose, sucrose
Sweet and soluble

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How are disaccharides joined? How are they broken up?

Condensation reaction forms a glycosidic (1→4) bond of adjacent sugars. Process is reversed by hydrolysis.

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What are maltose, sucrose and lactose made of?

Matose: 2 α-glucose
Sucrose: Glucsoe + fructose
Lactose: Glucose + galactose

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How can a ß- and α-glucose bond?

The ß-glucose flips over so ydroxyl groups are both adjacent, below the plane of the molecule

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Properties of polysaccharides?

Large, insoluble

- Polymers

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3 main polysaccharides

Starch: Storage of energy in plants
Glycogen: Storage of energy in animals
Cellulose: Make up cell walls

Composition of starch?

Amylose: long coiled chain of α-glucose

- Amylopectin: Shorter branched coiled chain of α-glucose

Composition of cellulose?

Long chains of ß-glucose joined at 180°
Straight zig-zag, not curved helix
Hydrogen bonds present too

Compostion of glycogen?

Short, branched chains of α-glucose

Composition of lipids (triglycerides)?

Glycerol + three fatty acid chains joined by ester bonds

Types of lipids

- Oils: more unsaturated | - Fats: More saturated

Functions/properties of lipids?

- Energy reserves - Osmotically active (non-polar, can't dissolve) - In respiration, glycerol (after hydrolysis) used - Highly reduced (make lots of water when respired) - Good insulators

Structure of phospholipids?

Glycerol + 2 fatty acids + phosphate group

Composition of proteins?

- Made of many amino acids | - Made of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

Few functions of proteins?

- Structure - Antibodies - Enzymes - Hormones

How are amino acids bonded?

Peptide bonds formed by condensatioin reaction between amine group and carboxylic acid group of adjacent amino acids

Types of proteins? How are they classified?

Classified by number of peptide bonds - Dipeptide - Polypeptide

Levels of structure of proteins

- Primary - Secondary - Tertiary - Quartenary

Explain levels of protein structure

- Primary: Order of amino acids - Secondary: Coiled long strings - Tertiary: Coils form 3D sturctures and fold - Quarternary: Tertiary structures joint together

________ code for one amino acid

3 nitrogenous bases

Types of secondary structure

- α helix | - ß pleat

Hydrogen bonds are easily broken by

- low pH | - High temperatures

Types of bonds in tertiary structure

- disulphide bridges - ionic bonds - hydrogen bonds - hydrophobi/hydrophilic interactions

Types of insulations by lipids

- Thermal (skin) - Mechanical (major organs) - Electrical (myelin sheaths)

How do ester bonds form?

Condensation recation b/w hydroxyl group of glycerol and carboxylic acid of fatty acids

5 uses of lipids?

- Insulation - Bile acids - Membrane component - Energy storage/source - Hormones

Structure of fatty acids?

Saturated hydrocarbon chain with carboxylic acid at one end

What groups are present in amino acids?

- Amine group - Carboxylic acid group - R group

What are enzymes?

They are proteins that act as biological catalysts

Characteristics of enzymes

- Globular proteins - Soluble (hydrophilic R-groups point outwards) - Each enzyme has a precise shape - Specific to substrate

2 types of enzymes and processes used

- Extracellular: Digestion, Decomposers | - Intracellular: Respiration, Photosynthesis

Where do reactions occur in enzymes?

Active site

Which part of the enzymes bind to the substrate?

R-groups of proteins bind

What forms when enzyme binds to substrate, and what is it called after the reaction?

Enzyme-substrate complex changes to enzyme-product complex

What factors affect enzyme activity?

- pH - Temperature - Substrate concentration - Enzyme concentration - Inhibitors - Cofactors