2.1 Molecules to metabolism Flashcards
What is molecular biology?
The field of study focussing on investigating biological activity at a molecular level
What regulates biological processes?
Enzymes
What controls enzymes expression?
Gene activation
What determines changes in activity in biological processes?
Signalling molecules
What are the two origins of signalling molecules?
Endogenous or exogenous
What is an organic compound?
A compound that contains carbon and is found in living things
What are exceptions to organic compounds?
Carbides
Carbonates
Oxides of carbon
Cyanides
Why does carbon form the basis of organic life?
Its ability to form large and complex molecules via covalent bonding
How many covalent bonds can carbon atoms form?
Four
Describe the stability in bonds between carbon atoms?
Stable
What do carbon properties allow carbon to form?
A wide variety of organic compounds that are chemically stable
How many main classes of carbon compounds are there?
Four
What are the main classes of carbon compounds?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Proteins
What is the most abundant organic compound found in nature?
Carbohydrates
What are carbohydrates composed of and in what ratio?
C H and O atoms in a ratio of (CH2O)n
What is the principal function of carbohydrates?
A source of energy and a short term energy storage option
What is carbohydrates important as?
Recognition molecules and as a structural component
What are lipids?
Non polar, hydrophobic molecules
What are the three different types of lipids?
Simple
Complex
Derived
What are lipids a major component of?
Cell membranes as phospholipids and cholesterol
What do lipids also function as?
Signalling molecules and long term energy storage molecules
What are nucleic acids?
Genetic materials of all cells and determines the features of an organism
What does the nucleic acid DNA function as?
A master code for protein assembly
What does the nucleic acid RNA play a role in?
In the manufacturing of proteins
What percentage of dry weight if cells do proteins make up?
Over 50%
What are proteins composed of?
C, H, O and N atoms (and some S)
What do proteins do?
Function as regulatory molecules involved in catalysis
as structural molecules
play a role in cellular signalling
What is a monomer of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
What is a monomer of nucleic acid?
Nucleotide
What is a monomer of protein?
Amino acid
What is a monomer of lipids?
Fatty acid
What is a polymer of carbohydrates?
Starch
What is a polymer of nucleic acids?
Double helix (DNA)
What is a polymer of proteins?
Polypeptide
What is a polymer of lipids?
Triglyceride
What is a cellular structure of carbohydrates?
Granules in chloroplasts
What is a cellular structure of nucleic acids?
Chromosome
What is a cellular structure of protein?
Intermediate filaments
What is a cellular structure of lipids?
Adipose cells
What are complex macromolecules composed of?
Monomers
What are monomers?
Smaller recurring subunits
Do lipids contain recurring monomers?
No they are composed of distinct subunits
What are carbohydrates, nucleic acids and proteins all comprised of?
Monomeric subunits that join together to form larger polymers
What are monosaccharides the building blocks of?
Disaccharides and Polysaccharides
What type of structure do most monosaccharides form?
Ring structures
Why do lipids not have a common recurring monomer?
Because they have many different classes which differ in structure
What do triglycerids, phospholipids and waxes all contain in their overall structure?
Fatty acid chains
What are fatty acids?
Long chains of hydrocarbons that may or may not have double bonds
What do amino acids join together to form?
Polypeptide chains
What does each amino acid consist of?
A central carbon connected to an amine group and an opposing carboxyl group
What gives different amino acids different properties?
A variable group often denoted as R
What do nucleotides join together to form?
Polynucleotide chains
What does each nucleotide consist of?
A pentose sugar
A phosphate group
A nitrogenous base
What differs between DNA and RNA?
The type of sugar and composition of bases
What is the structure of complex carbohydrates dependent on?
The composition of monomeric subunits
What do polysaccharides differ in accordance to?
The type of monosaccharide they possess and the way the subunits bond together
What can glucose monomers be combined to form?
A variety of different polymers like glycogen, cellulose and starch
What are simple lipids?
Esters of fatty acids and alcohol
What are compound lipids?
Esters of fatty acids, alcohol and additional groups
What are derived lipids?
Substances derived from simple or compound lipids
What joins amino acids together?
Peptide bonds
Where do peptide bonds form between?
The amine and carboxyl groups of adjacent amino acids
What creates a dipeptide?
The fusion of two amino acids
What does further additions of amino acids result in?
The formation of a polypeptide chain
What does the subsequent folding of a polypeptide chain depend on?
The order of amino acids in a sequence
Where do nucleotides form bonds between?
The pentose sugar and phosphate group
What do the nucleotide bonds form?
Long polynucleotide chains
In DNA what will pair up to form double strands?
Two complementary chains via hydrogen bonding between nitrogenous bases
What does the double stranded molecule in DNA twist to form?
A double helical arrangement
What is vitalism?
A doctrine that said organic molecules could only be synthesised by living systems
In accordance to vitalism what was it believed living things had to make organic molecules?
A certain vital force
In accordance to vitalism what was it thought that organic compound possessed?
A non physical element lacking from inorganic molecules
Why has vitalism been disproven?
Because organic molecules can be made artificially
In 1828 what did Frederick Woehler heat to create what?
He heated inorganic salt to make urea
What is urea?
A waste product of nitrogen metabolism
What did the artificial synthesis of urea show?
That organic molecules are not fundamentally different to inorganic molecules
What is metabolism?
All of the chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
What is all of the enzyme catalysed reactions that occur within a cell or organism called?
Metabolism
What are the two key functions of metabolic reactions?
They provide a source of energy for cellular processes
They enable the synthesis and assimilation of new materials for use within the cell
What are anabolic reactions?
The set of metabolic reactions that build up complex molecules from simpler ones
What is the type of reaction that happens in anabolic reaction?
Condensation reactions
When do condensation reactions occur?
When monomers are covalently joined and water is produced as a by-product
How are monosaccharides joined via?
Glycosidic linkages
How are amino acids joined via?
Peptide bonds
How are glycerol and fatty acids joined via?
Ester linkage
How are nucleotides joined via?
Phosphodiester bonds
What is the purpose of anabolism?
Synthesising complex molecules from simpler ones
Describe the energetics behind anabolism?
It uses energy to construct new bonds
What do anabolism typically involves, reduction or oxidation reactions?
Reduction reactions
What is produced in condensation reactions happen?
Water
What are catabolic reactions?
The set of metabolic reactions that break complex molecules down into simpler molecules
What does the breakdown of organic molecules via catabolism typically occur via?
Hydrolysis reactions
What do hydrolysis reactions need and why?
The consumption of water molecules to break the bonds within the polymer
Describe the energy in catabolism reactions?
Releases energy when bonds are broken
What do catabolism typically involves, reduction or oxidation reactions?
Oxidation reactions
What is the mnemonic for catabolism?
Break-dancing cat
What is the mnemonic for anabolism?
Anna the builder
