Biological Compounds Flashcards by Ben Hawke

What bond connects molecules of water together and which ions is it between?

Hydrogen bond. Between oxygen and hydrogen

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What bond connects hydrogen and oxygen in a water molecule?

Covalent bond

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What charge does hydrogen have in a water molecule?

Positive

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What charge does oxygen have in a water molecule?

Negative

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What type of molecule is water and why is considered this?

Polar molecule. Oxygen has a negative charge and hydrogen has a positive charge meaning there is an overall positive charge

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What property of water means it’s able to dissolve other substances and what is it’s function within living organisms?

Solvent. Allows substances to be transported in the blood

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What is cohesion and what is it’s function within living organisms?

Cohesion is the bond between the same molecules. Allows insects to walk on water

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What does cohesion create?

Surface tension

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What is thermal stability and what is it’s function within living organisms?

Little temperature change in large volumes of water. Aquatic creatures can live in a stable environment

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What impact does water freezing have and what is it’s function within living organisms?

Less dense if frozen so floats. Means bodies of water don’t fully freeze so organisms can survive under the surface

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What does having a high specific heat capacity mean and what is it’s function within living organisms?

It takes a lot of energy to heat 1kg of water by 1 degree. Allows water to remain cool in hot climates

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What does having a high latent heat of vaporisation mean and what is it’s function within living organisms?

Takes a lot of energy to break bonds in water therefore a lot of heat is removed in vapour. Helps cool down organisms by sweating

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What is the general formula for monosaccharides?

c(H2O)n

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What are three examples of carbohydrates?

Starch
Glucose
Sucrose

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What are the main functions of carbohydrates in humans?

Energy source
Structural materials
Transportable or storable energy

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What is the chemical formula for glucose?

C6H12O6

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Where is the OH (hydroxyl) group situated in alpha glucose?

Below the ring on carbon 1

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Where is the OH (hydroxyl) group situated in beta glucose?

Above the ring on carbon 1

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Define a disaccharide

2 monosaccharides that join by a condensation reaction

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How is maltose formed?

Alpha glucose + alpha glucose = maltose

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How is sucrose formed?

Alpha glucose + fructose = sucrose

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How is lactose formed?

Alpha glucose + galactose = lactose

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What are the three polymers of carbohydrates?

Starch (amylose and amylopectin)
Glycogen
Cellulose

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What is the structure of amylose?

Polymer of alpha glucose. 1,4 glycosidic links. Forms coiled chains

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What is the structure of amylopectin?

Branched polymer of alpha glucose. 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic links

What is the structure of glycogen?

Polymer of alpha glucose. 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic links. More branches, many coiled chains

What is the function of starch (amylose and amylopectin) and glycogen?

Broken off for respiration. Insoluble so doesn't reduce water potential. Compact so can be stored as granules in liver and muscle cells

What is the structure of cellulose?

Beta glucose monomer. Makes parallel chains. 1,4 glycosidic links. Each molecule rotated 180 degrees relative to the next glucose. H bonds between hydroxyl (OH) groups. Form bundles called microfibrils

What is the function of cellulose?

Microfibrils support cell wall. Prevent from bursting as very strong

How is chitin similar to cellulose and what makes it different?

180 degree flipped beta glucoses relative to the next one. Forms parallel bonds. H bonds between hydroxyl groups. Has an acetyl amide side group that cellulose doesn't have

Why is chitin important to insect body structure?

Strong, waterproof, lightweight, flexible, allows flight

What 3 elements do lipids contain?

Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

What is the function of lipids?

Energy storage Structural components - phospholipids - 40% of cell membrane Thermal insulation Waterproofing (waxy, oily) Buoyancy (less dense than water)

What are triglycerides made up of?

One glycerol and three fatty acids

What is the structure of a glycerol molecule?

H H - C - OH H - C - OH H - C - OH H

What is an ester bond?

The bonds that joins glycerol and the three fatty acids

What are saturated fatty acids?

Fats that only have single bonds along their fatty acid chains

What are unsaturated fatty acids?

Fats that have at least one double bond within the fatty acid chain

What are phospholipids made up of?

A glycerol, two fatty acids and a phosphate group

What are the main causes of heart disease?

Plaque/atheroma - fatty deposits in coronary arteries Hypertension - high blood pressure

What are the main contributing factors to heart disease?

Diet high in saturated fats Smoking Lack of exercise Age

What are LDL's?

Low Density Lipoproteins. Bad fats from saturated fats. Cause atheroma to form in coronary arteries which restricts blood flow

What are HDL's?

High Density Lipoproteins. Good fats from unsaturated fats. Higher HDL:LDL ratio, the lower the risk of heart disease.

What are proteins made up of?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur and phosphorus

What is the function of proteins?

Enzymes, carrier proteins, antibodies, structure, hormones, transport

What does the amino acid structure contain?

An amino group A variable R group A carboxylic acid group

What is the the chemical amino acid structure?

H - R = O N - C - C H - H - OH

What makes the structure of glycine recognisable as an amino acid?

Variable R group is H

What makes the structure of cysteine recognisable as an amino acid?

Variable R group is CH2 I SH

What are some examples of globular proteins?

Enzymes, channel proteins, transport proteins, hormones

What are some examples of fibrous proteins?

Structural proteins, hair, skin, ligaments, tendons, collagen and keratin

What is the difference between the 3-D shape of fibrous vs globular proteins?

Fibrous - Form fibres Globular - Roll up to form balls

What is the difference between the solubility of fibrous vs globular proteins?

Fibrous - Insoluble in water Globular - Soluble in water

What is the difference between the amino acid sequence of fibrous vs globular proteins?

Fibrous - 35% of amino acids are glycine Globular - Wide range of amino acids

What is the difference between the function of fibrous vs globular proteins?

Fibrous - Structural role as found in skin, bones, tendons and cartilage Globular - Metabolic role as carries oxygen in O2

What is the difference between the features of fibrous vs globular proteins?

Fibrous - No prosthetic group Globular - Has prosthetic group - haem

What is the structure of primary polypeptides?

Sequence of amino acids held together by peptide bonds

What is the structure of secondary polypeptides?

Regular folding of original structure. Beta plaited sheet Alpha helix

What is the structure of tertiary polypeptides?

Further folding of the polypeptide chain to give a more complex 3-D shape

What is the structure of quaternary polypeptides?

Made up of more than one polypeptide chain. Might have a non-protein prosthetic group (becomes conjugated protein)

What bonds are present in a primary polypeptide?

Peptide bonds

What bonds are present in a secondary polypeptide?

Peptide bonds Hydrogen bonds

What bonds are present in a tertiary and quaternary polypeptide?

H bonds (polar R groups) Disulphide bonds (covalent bonds. Sulfur) Ionic bonds (between + and - R groups of amino acids) Hydrophobic interactions (non-polar R groups)

What is it called when a protein has a non-protein prosthetic group?

Conjugated protein

What is an example of a secondary protein?

Keratin

What are some examples of tertiary proteins?

Antibodies Enzymes Plasma proteins Carrier proteins Channel proteins

What are some examples of quaternary proteins?

Collagen Haemoglobin

What is the structure of a triple helix?

Collagen molecule. 3 polypeptide chains wrapped around each other. Very close together due to glycine being the smallest amino acid

What is the shape of a haemoglobin molecule?

Globular

What type of groups on the chains of a haemoglobin molecule point inwards?

Hydrophobic

What type of groups on the chains of a haemoglobin molecule point outwards?

Hydrophilic

What is a prosthetic group?

Non-protein attached to a protein