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Biology > Biochemistry > Flashcards

Biochemistry Flashcards

0
Q

potential energy

A

The energy that matter possesses because of its location or structure.

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1
Q

energy

A

The capacity to cause change-for example, by doing work.

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2
Q

radioactive isotope

A

unstable isotope-in which the nucleus decays spontaneously, emitting particles and energy

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3
Q

mass number

A

sum of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

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4
Q

valence electrons

A

outermost electrons in an atom which dictate the chemical behavior of the atom

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5
Q

inert elements

A

elements that have a completed valence shell and therefore are chemically unreactive.

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6
Q

covalent bond

A

sharing of valance electron pair by two atoms

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7
Q

double bond

A

sharing of two pairs of valence electrons

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8
Q

electronegativity

A

attraction of a particular atom for the electrons of a covalent bond

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9
Q

Nonpolar covalent bond

A

electrons in a bond are shared equally

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10
Q

polar covalent bond

A

electrons in a chemical bond are not shared equally, giving the atoms in the bond a charge positive or negative

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11
Q

ionic bond

A

Chemical bond formed by atoms of opposite charges

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12
Q

cation

A

positively charged ion

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13
Q

anion

A

negatively charged ion

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14
Q

hydrogen bonds

A

Noncovalent attraction between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom

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15
Q

van der Waals interactions

A

changing regions of positive and negative charge that enable atoms and molecules to stick to one another

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16
Q

amphipathic molecule

A

molecule with a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region

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17
Q

six functions of membrane proteins

A

1) transport solutions across the membrane
2) enzymatic activity
3) signal transduction
4) cell to cell recognition
5) intercellular joining
6) attachment to the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix in order to maintain cell shape and stabilize location of certain membrane proteins

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18
Q

why carbon rocks

A

1) electron configuration gives it covalent compatibility with many different elements
2) valence electrons allow chains of infinite variety

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19
Q

hydrocarbons

A

organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

* major components of petroleum

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20
Q

four carbon skeleton variations

A

1) length
2) branching
3) double bond positioning
4) presence of rings

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21
Q

isomers

A

compounds with the same numbers of atoms of the same elements (molecular formula) but different structures and different properties

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22
Q

three types of isomers

A

1) structural isomers
2) cis-trans isomers
3) enantiomers

23
Q

structural isomers

A

covalent arrangements of atoms are different; they may also differ in the location of double bonds

24
Q

cis-trans isomers (aka geometric isomers)

A

carbons have covalent bonds to the same atoms, but arrangements of the atoms are different due to the inflexibility of double bonds

25
Q

cis isomer

A

atom/atoms attached to a double bonded carbon are on the same side of the molecule

26
Q

trans isomer

A

atom/s attached to a double-bonded carbon are on opposite sides of the molecule

27
Q

Enantiomers

A

isomers that are mirror images of each other and that differ in shape due to an asymmetric carbon
(example: methamphetamine: street drug is one enantiomer, the other treats nasal congestion)

28
Q

functional groups

A

Chemical groups that affect molecular function by being directly involved in chemical reactions

29
Q

seven chemical groups most important in biological processes

A

hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, Amino, sulfhydryl, phosphate, and methyl

30
Q

hydroxyl group

A

—OH or HO—

  • hydrogen atom bonded to oxygen atom bonded to carbon skeleton
  • Compound name: alcohols
  • polar as a result of electrons spending time near the oxygen atom
  • can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, dissolving organic compounds
31
Q

Carbonyl group

A

> CO

  • carbon atom double-bonded to oxygen atom
  • Compound name: ketones if group is within carbon skeleton, aldehydes if group is at the end of the carbon skeleton
  • Ketone and aldehyde groups also found in sugars
32
Q

carboxyl group

A

—COOH

  • carboxylic acids aka organic acids
  • acts as an acid: can donate hydrogen atom because the covalent -OH bond is so polar
33
Q

Amino group

A

—NH2

  • nitrogen atom bonded to 2 hydrogen atoms and the carbon skeleton
  • amines
  • acts as a base: can pick up an H+ from the surrounding solution
  • found in cells in the ionized form with the charge 1+
34
Q

Sulfhydryl group

A

—SH or HS—

  • sulfur atom bonded to hydrogen atom
  • Thiols
  • two sulfhydryl groups can react forming a covalent bond aka cross-linking-help stabilize protein structure
  • cross linking of cysteines and hair proteins maintains curliness/straightness of hair
35
Q

phosphate group

A

—OPO3-2

  • phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms, one oxygen bonded to carbon skeleton, two oxygens carry negative charges
  • organic phosphates
  • contributes negative charge to its molecule
  • molecules containing phosphate groups potentially react with water, releasing energy
36
Q

methyl group

A

—CH3

  • carbon bonded to three hydrogen atoms
  • methylated compounds
  • addition of methyl group to DNA or to molecules bound to DNA affects the expression of genes
  • arrangement of methyl groups in sex hormones affects shape and function
37
Q

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

A

organic phosphate that stores potential to react with water ; reaction releases energy to be used by the cell

38
Q

glycosidic linkage

A

covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction

39
Q

polymer

A

Long molecule made of many similar or identical building blocks linked by covalent bonds

40
Q

monomer

A

repeating units of a polymer; sometimes with independent functions

41
Q

dehydration reaction/condensation reaction

A

covalent bond of monomers formed by shared loss of water molecule (-OH from one, -H from the other)

42
Q

hydrolysis

A

reverse of dehydration reaction that breaks polymers apart

43
Q

function of monosaccharides

A

major nutrients for cells: fuel for cellular work, carbon skeletons become raw material to make other organic molecules, unused sugar molecules become poly or disaccharides, can convey information

44
Q

function of polysaccharides

A

Storage material, building material for structures that protect the cell or the whole organism

45
Q

saturated fats/fatty acids

A

there are no double bonds between carbon atoms that compose a chain , as many hydrogen atoms as possible are bonded to the carbon skeleton

46
Q

unsaturated fats/ fatty acid

A

one or more double bonds with one fewer hydrogen atom on each double bonded carbon

47
Q

Function of enzymatic proteins

A

selective acceleration of chemical reactions

example: digestive enzymes catalyze hydrolysis of bonds in food

48
Q

function of storage proteins

A

Storage of amino acids

example: casein (milk protein) supplies amino acids for baby mammals

49
Q

function of defensive proteins

A

protection against disease

example: antibodies

50
Q

function of transport proteins

A

transport of substances

example: hemoglobin

51
Q

function of hormonal protein

A

coordination of an organism’s activities

example: insulin regulates blood sugar

52
Q

function of receptor proteins

A

response of cell to chemical stimuli

example: receptors built into a nerve cell membrane detect signaling molecules from other nerve cells

53
Q

function of contractile and motor proteins

A

movement

example: cilia and flagella

54
Q

function of structural proteins

A

support

example: Keratin, collagen, elastin

55
Q

Catabolic pathways

A

release energy by breaking down complex molecules to simpler compounds

Biology (3 decks)

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