Bio Concept 2 Flashcards
What is a macromolecule?
Biological polymers made of long repeating subunits (monomers)
What is a name for the functional group that links carbohydrate monomers?
Glycosidic bonds/ether bond.
Explain the roles of starch and glycogen. How are they similar or different to each other?
Starch – plant energy storage (amalose and amliopectin)
Glycogen – animal energy storage
Very similar, glycogen has more branch points, so releases energy faster. Starch is also only 2 components, but glycogen is highly branched (shorter chains between branching points)
List the chemical similarity and difference between starch and cellulose. Explain why humans cannot digest cellulose but can digest starch.
Similar: Both come from glucose, both found in plants
Differences: One is branching, the other is linear, humans can digest starch but not cellulose, and have different bond types (alpha and beta)
Because most mammals don’t have cellulase, enzyme for breaking down beta bonds between glucose subunits (beta 1-4 bonds)
DNA and RNA direction is often described as 5’ to 3’. What do the “5” and “3” refer to?
the carbon numbering on the sugar (ribose or deoxyribose) molecule within a nucleotide.
What is a name for the functional group that links amino acid monomers?
Peptide bond
List some of the various functions of proteins.
Become enzymes
Movement
Photosynthesis
(literally everything)
Distinguish between primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures of proteins.
Primary = line
Secondary = alpha helixes and beta sheets (stablilised by hydrogen bonds)
Tertiary = attraction between helixes and pleats (3D)
Quaternary (in things like hemoglobin) multiple amino acid strands
What does the term “denatured protein” mean?
Protein that has had the shape changed, and shape = function, so function is either impaired or completely lost
Explain how each of the following could potentially cause denaturation of a protein:
* pH change
* temperature increase
* addition of high concentration of a polar molecule
* addition of a high concentration of a non-polar molecule
In your answer, refer to any intermolecular forces or bonds that might be involved.
pH – too acidic or basic means that protein changes – alters charge on R groups
temp – too high = bonds tear apart with kinetic energy and shape changes
interfere with proteins ability to make dipole dipole and hydrogen bonds
Interferes via hydrophobic reactions
List the physical and chemical properties of lipids.
Insoluble in water
Non-polar, held together by weak (additive) dispersion force
Dissolve readily in organic solvents
Mainly C, H and O
Smaller proportion of oxygen (compared to carbs)
May have other elements (phosphorus & nitrogen)
Explain why most lipids are not water soluble.
Can’t form hydrogen bonds with water
What is the main structural difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated – lots of hydrogen
Unsaturated – not as much – kinky and can’t pack together- oils generally
What is the functional group that is common to triglycerides?
Ester group
