2.1 molecules to metabolism

Question 1

what is the reductionist approach?

Answer 1

used to study processes of life, reducing processes to their component parts, and then breaking them down into their individual steps in the metabolic pathways

Question 2

why is carbon so versatile and essential?

Answer 2

• covalent bonds are strongest type of bond that can form between 2 atoms
• carbon atoms capable of forming four covalent bonds, meaning that each carbon atom can form covalent bonds with 4 other atoms, and this leads to increased versatility of the carbon atom
• allows for formation of large complex macromolecules to be possible

Question 3

what are the properties of organic compounds dependent on?

Answer 3

• size and shape of molecule
• groups of atoms (functional groups)
• most functional groups tend to be polar, most organic compounds that contain a functional group are hydrophilic

Question 4

compare testosterone vs estradiol

Answer 4

• male and female sex hormones differ only in the functional groups
• differences give rise to different molecular actions
• result in distinguishable features found in males and females

present in both testosterone and estradiol:
- CH3 and OH on 1 end

differences:

estradiol: 2nd OH on the other end
testosterone: 2nd CH3 and O double bond on other end

Question 5

how to identify carbohydrates

Answer 5

(CHOH)2 COHH CHOH CHCH2OH

start counting carbons from the pointy on the right

Question 6

how to identify lipids

Answer 6

glycerol on top (HCHOCHOCHOH)

fatty acids below (C = O CH2 CH2 [chain of CH2]; x3)

Question 7

how to identify proteins (hydrophobic)

Answer 7

leucine (leu)
NH2CHCOOH (on top)
CH2CHCH3CH3 (below)

Question 8

how to identify proteins (hydrophilic)

Answer 8

serine (ser)
NH2CHCOOH (on top)
CH2OH (below)

aspartic acid (asp)
NH2CHCOOH (on top)
CH2COOH (below)

Question 9

how to identify nucleic acids

Answer 9

phosphate group
O=PO3-

deoxyribose sugar
CH CH2 CHOH CHCH2 (where it connects to phosphate group) O

nitrogenous base (a, g, c or t)

forms dna nucleotide

Question 10

define metabolism

Answer 10

web of all the enzyme-catalysed reactions in a cell or organism

• deals with the manipulation of molecules and energy, transferring or converting them from different sources to form different products
• summation of all chemical reactions taking place in an organism
• emergent property arising from the interactions between molecules within a cell
• metabolic pathway begins with a specific molecule and results in a product being formed, and is often made up various steps in a series of chemical reactions with each step catalysed by a specific enzyme

Question 11

define anabolism

Answer 11

synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules including the formation of macromolecules from monomers by condensation reactions

• refer to chemical reactions in living organisms that utilises energy to build complex molecules from simpler ones
• example of an anabolic reaction is the production of proteins from amino acids

Question 12

define catabolism

Answer 12

breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules including the hydrolysis of macromolecules into monomers

• release energy by breaking down complex compounds into simpler molecules
• cellular respiration, the breakdown of glucose into carbon dioxide and water, is an example of a catabolic pathway

Question 13

how was urea discovered as a compound that is produced by living organisms but can also be artificially synthesized?

Answer 13

• Wöhler in 1828 accidentally synthesised urea while trying to produce a sample of ammonium cyanate
• was excited and proclaimed that he can make urea without needing a human kidney

expected:
AgOCN + NH4Cl -> NH4OCN + AgCl
obtained:
AgOCN + NH4Cl -> O = C H2N NH2