2.2 Biological Macromolecules Flashcards
Organic Chemistry
The study of carbon compounds
Metabolism
The web of all enzyme-catalyzed reactions in a cell or organism (combination of anabolism and catabolism)
Anabolism
The synthesis of complex molecules from simpler molecules (e.g. dehydration synthesis)
Catabolism
The breakdown of complex molecules into simpler molecules (e.g. hydrolysis)
Macromolecules
Large polymers made of smaller monomers
Name 4 macromolecules
Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids
Polymer
Monomers joined together
Hydrocarbon
An organic compound composed of hydrogen and carbon (non-polar/hydrophobic)
Dehydration Synthesis
A chemical reaction that combines molecules following the removal of water
Hydrolysis
A chemical reaction where water molecules break down polymers, cleaving off one monomer at a time (reverse of dehydration synthesis)
Monomer and polymer of carbohydrates
Monosaccharides and Polysaccharides (cellulose etc.)
Name 2 features of hydrolysis
Requires enzymes and releases energy (ATP -> ADP)
Carbohydrate
C6H12O6
Bonds in carbohydrates
Glycosidic bond
Name 3 lipid groups
Triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids
Function of polysaccharides
Energy storage (starch in plants and glycogen in animals) and structure (cellulose in plants and chitin in arthropods)
Features of lipids
Form long hydrocarbon chains (H-C), very non-polar, do not form polymers (in monomers as fatty acids and glycerol)
2 functions of lipids
Long-term energy storage and structural components in cells
Bond in lipids
Ester bond
Function of fats
Energy storage, cushions organs, insulates body
Difference between saturated and unsaturated fats
Saturated fatty acids have hydrocarbon chains connected by single bonds only while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds
Features of saturated fats
Straight and long chains, solid at room temperature, most animal fats
Features of unsaturated fats
Liquid at room temperature, kinks from double bonds prevent tight packing, most plant and fish oils
Structure of triglycerides
A glycerol backbone esterified with three fatty acids
Structure of phospholipids
A glycerol molecule and two fatty acids
Structure of steroids
4 fused carbon rings
Function of cholesterol
Helps keep cell membranes fluid and flexible
