2.2 Biological Molecules Definitions Flashcards
Adhesion
A property of water molecules that creates an attraction between them and surfaces that they are in contact with.
Amino Acid
The monomers containing an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and a variable E group that make up proteins
Amylopectin
A branched polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose monomers joined by a 1-6, glycosidic bonds that makes up starch along with amylose.
Amylose
An unbranched polysaccharide made up of alpha glucose monomers joined by a 1-4, glycosidic bonds that make sup starch along with amylopectin
Anions
An ion with a negative charge
Benedict’s test
A biochemical test used to detect the presence of a reducing sugar in a solution and distinguish between solutions of different reducing sugar concentrations
Biuret test
A biochemical test that produces a purple colour when it is added to a solution containing protein
Cations
AN ion with a positive charge
Cellulose
A linear polysaccharide that is the main component of the cell wall in plants and is made up of many beta glucose molecules joined 1-4, glycosidic bonds
Chromatography
A technique used to separate different molecules in a solution by their different properties
Cohesion
A property of water molecules that creates an attraction between them which causes them to stick together
Collagen
A type of fibrous protein that provides strength to many different cell types and makes up connective tissues
Condensation reaction
A type of reaction that joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond involving the elimination of a molecule of water.
Conjugated protein
A protein with a prosthetic group bound to it.q
Elastin
A type of fibrous protein that alllows tissues and strcutures like blood vessels to stretch and return to their original shape.
FIbrous protein
A class of long chain proteins that are generally insoluble in water and typically have structural roles
Globular protein
A class of spherical shaped proteins that are generally water soluble and typically have metabolic roles
Glucose
A hexose monosaccharide that is main respiratory substrate in eukaryotes
Glycogen
A highly branched polysaccharide that is used as the main energy storage molecule in animals and is made up of alpha glucose monomers by a 1-4, glycosidic bonds
Haemoglobin
A type of conjugated globular protein used to transport oxygen that is made up of four polypeptide chains each containing a haem prosthetic group
Hexose monosaccharide
A simple sugar that contains 6 carbon atoms
Hydrogen bond
A type of weak bond formed between an electropositive hydrogen and an electronegative atom like oxygen or nitrogen.
Hydrolysis
Breaking a chemical bond between two molecules involving the use of a water molecule
Insulin
A globular protein hormone that is made in the pancreas in response to detection of high glucose levels in the blood
Iodine test
A biochemical test that produces a blue/black colour when it is added to a solution containing starch
Keratin
A type of fibrous protein that provides strength to hair and nails
Lactose
A disaccharide made of a molecule glucose and galactose joined by a glycosidic bond
Lipid emulsion test
A biochemical test that produces a cloudy emulsion when performed on lipids
Maltose
A disaccharide made of two molecules of glucose joined by a glycosidic bond
Monomer
An individual unit that can be bonded to other identical monomers to make a polymer
Pentose monosaccharide
A simple sugar that contains 5 carbon atoms
Phospholipid
A type of amphipathic lipid made from a molecule of glycorel bonded to two fatty acid molecules and a phosphate group
Polymer
A molecule made from many repeating monomers joined together
Polymers
Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together
Primary structure
The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein
Quaternary structure
A structure only applicable to proteins with multiple polypeptide chains that describes the interactions of the different chains
Ribose
A pentose monosaccharide which composes the backbone of RNA
Saturated fatty acid
A type of fatty and acid molecule containing only single bonds between the carbon atoms
Secondary structure
The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain
Solvent
A liquid that solutes can dissolve in to form a solution
Starch
A polysaccharide used for energy storage in plants that is made up of alpha glucose joined together in the forms of amylose and amylopectin
Sucrose
A disaccharide made of a molecule glucose and fructose joined by a glycosidic bond
Teritary structure
The way that the whole protein folds to make a 3D structure
Triglyceride
A type of lipid formed from a molecule of glycerol joined by ester bonds to three fatty acid molecules
Unsaturated fatty acid`
A type of fatty acid molecule containing at least one double bond in the carbon chain
