Biochemistry Flashcards
Protein
Large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids.
What is a Peptide Bond?
A covalent chemical bond formed between two amino acid molecules.
What is an active site?
A region on an enzyme that binds to a protein or other substance during a reaction.
What is an enzyme?
A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.
What is a polypeptide?
A linear organic polymer consisting of a large number of amino-acid residues bonded together in a chain.
What is a substrate?
A substance or layer that underlies something, or on which some process occurs, in particular. The surface or material on or from which an organism lives, grows, or obtains its nourishment. The substance on which an enzyme acts.
What is an amino acid?
A simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group.
What is hydrolysis?
The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.
What is synthesis?
The composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole, or the production of a substance.
What is an isomer?
Two or more compounds with the same formula but a different arrangement of atoms in the molecule.
What is a polymer?
Large molecules built from smaller molecules called monomers.
What is a monomer?
A molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.
What is dehydration?
A chemical reaction that involves the loss of a water molecule from the reacting molecule.
What is a condensation reaction?
A reaction in which two molecules combine to form a larger molecule, producing a small molecule such as H2O as a byproduct.
What is RNA?
A nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins.
