2.1 Molecules to Metabolism Flashcards
Metabolism
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
Molecules in living things are:
- carbohydrates (glucose)
- lipids (fatty acids)
- proteins(insulin, made from amino acids
- nucleic acid (DNA)
Monomers
Ring shaped molecules
Monossaccharides
simplest carb
Lipids
- Organic molecules
- insoluble in water
- soluble in non-polar organic solvents
Triglycerides
Common lipids
• 1 glycerol
• 3 fatty acid chains
Proteins
- contain: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and NITROGEN
- made of amino acids
- arranged into 1+ linear chains
- found in: • hormones (insulin) • enzymes (catalase) •immunoglobin (anitbodies) • gas transport (haemoglobin)
Nucleic Acids
- contain: carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus
- RNA and DNA
Nucleotide
basic structural unit and building block for DNA
Monosaccharides
- simplest carb
* have ring structures
Fatty Acids
- Building blocks of lipids
* carboxylic group
Amino Acids
- building blocks of proteins
- amine group, acid group(carboxyl group), simple H group, and R
Anabolism
reactions that build up complex molecules from simpler molecules
Catabolism
breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules
Metabolism
consists of pathways in which one type of molecules is transformed into another
Condensation
makes bonds
- water is released
• example of condensation
Hydrolysis
breaks bonds
- splits water
• example of catabolism
Polypeptide
A linear chain of amino acids forming a protein molecule
1-4
Glycosidic bond
joins a carb molecule to another molecule
Peptides
short chains of amino acid monomers linked by peptide bonds
Dipeptide
a peptide composed of 2 amino acid monomers
Urea
- living organism waste product (nitrogenous)
- (humans) produced in the liver -> filtered out by kidneys
- Wöhler accidentally synthesized in 1828 (attempted to prepare ammonium cynate, but mixed cyanic acid and ammonium
- produced when there is an excess amount of amino acids in the body
- used as a nitrogen fertilizer on crops
Vitalism
all the functions of a living organism are due to an unknown vital principle distinct from all chemical and physical forces
