Biochemistry - Macromolecules Flashcards
Macromolecule + Types
Large molecules sometimes composed of many repeating subunits (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids)
Macromolecules functions
Energy storage + production, cell structure, cell function, cell communication, and storage of genetic information
Monomers
The small molecules that link together to form polymers
Polymers
A chain-like macromolecule made up of smaller linked molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids)
Anabolic reaction
Condensation reaction in which macromolecules are formed (large molecules assembled from smaller subunits)
Catabolic reaction
Hydrolysis reactions in which macromolecules are disassembled (larger molecules broken into subunits)
Carbohydrate functions
Quickest source of energy, long term energy storage, produce structural components
Lipid functions
Energy storage (slowest but most efficient), insulation, temp regulation, absorb vitamins + minerals, internal organ protection, cell membrane, structure, hormone production (cholesterol)
Protein function
Controlling what enters + leaves the cell, carrying oxygen in blood, breaking down foods, allowing for muscle contraction, supporting body’s tissues
Nucleic acid function
Store genetic information + allow it to be translated into proteins, produce identical copies of itself, allow for basic life functions of cells
Types of carbohydrates
- Monosaccharides (individual monomers)
- Disaccharides (2 monosaccharide monomers)
- Oligosaccharides (3-15 monosaccharide monomers)
- Polysaccharides (>15/many monosaccharide glucose monomers)
Glycosidic linkage
Ether linkage produced by condensation reaction between 2 monosaccharides
Isomer
Molecules with the same chemical formula but different atom arrangement (e.g. glucose, fructose, galactose)
Alpha glucose
Hydroxyl below ring (5+ carbon monosaccharide in water)
Beta glucose
Hydroxyl above ring (5+ carbon monosaccharide in water)
Significance of numbering in glycosidic linkage
Indicates specific carbon atoms involved in the linkage
Storage polysaccharides
Store sugar for later use in energy production (glycogen in animals, starch in plants)
Structural polysaccharides
Building blocks for cell structures (cellulose in plants, chitin in exoskeletons of insects)
Glycogen
Animal storage polysaccharide, highly branched, alpha glucose, 1-4/1-6 bonds
Amylose
Plant storage polysaccharide, starch, unbranched, alpha glucose, 1-4 bonds
Amylopectin
Plant storage polysaccharide, starch, branched, alpha glucose, 1-4/1-6 bonds
Cellulose
Plant structural polysaccharide, straight chain, beta glucose, 1-4 bonds
Types of lipids
Triglycerides (fats + oils commonly found in food, most common), phospholipids (micelles and phospholipid bilayers), sterols (cholesterol + derivatives), waxes (environmental barrier, waterproofing)
Triglyceride structure
Glycerol molecule bonded to 3 fatty acids (ester linkage bonds fatty acids to glycerol)
Fatty acid
Hydrocarbon chain with carboxyl group at the end
Saturated fatty acid
No double bonds, straight hydrocarbon chain
Monounsaturated fatty acid
1 double bond, 1 kink/bend
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
Numerous double bonds, many kinds/bends
Phospholipid structure
Glycerol molecule + 2 fatty acids + highly polar phosphate group, hydrophilic head/hydrophobic tail
Sterol structure
Hydrophobic molecule made up of 4 interconnected carbon rings
Amino acid structure
Amino group on the left, carboxyl group on the right, R group on the bottom
Amino acid structure
Amino group on the left, carboxyl group on the right, R group on the bottom
Essential amino acids
9, cannot be produced by the body so it must be obtained from diet
Primary protein structure
Amino acids linked through peptide bond + form long chain called a polypeptide
Secondary protein structure
Intermolecular forces (hydrogen bonds) cause the polypeptide to coil into alpha helix or beta pleated sheet
Tertiary protein structure
Secondary structure fold on itself due to interactions with its environment
Quaternary protein structure
Multiple tertiary structures interact with each other to form even larger proteins
Denaturation
Unraveling/change in shape of tertiary/quaternary structures due to changes in environmental conditions (e.g. temp., pH, ion concentration, reactions with toxins or medications)
DNA structure
Double stranded, stores genetic information, found in nucleus, contains deoxyribose sugar
RNA structure
Single stranded, transfers DNA instructions to ribosomes used in structural and functional protein production, found in cytoplasm, contains ribose sugars
Nucleotide
Composed of pentose sugar molecule, phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (phosphodiester bonds between them to form strands)
Nitrogenous bases
Adenine, Cytosine, Guanine (DNA/RNA)
Thymine (DNA only)
Uracil (RNA only)
DNA complementary base pairs
A-T, G-C (hydrogen bonds form between them, holding DNA strands together)
Purines
Adenine and Guanine (contain two ring structures)
Pyrimidines
Cytosine, Thymine, Uracil (contain single ring structure)
5’ end of DNA
Free phosphate
3’ end of DNA
Free sugar
Antiparallel
DNA strands run in opposite directions, twist into coil (“double helix”)
Nucleic acid derivatives
ATP: energy carrying molecule produced by mitochondria
NAD+ and FAD: important coenzyme in cellular respiration
NADP+: important coenzyme in photosynthesis
