Biological Macromolecules Flashcards
What are the six main elements that make up biological macromolecules?
Hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, sulfur, phosphorus, nitrogen
What is dehydration synthesis?
A chemical reaction where water is removed between two linking monomers.
Monomer + Monomer -> Polymer + H2O
What is hydrolysis?
Polymers are broken down with the addition of water.
Polymer + H2O -> Monomer + Monomer
What are the four categories of macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids
What is the formula for carbohydrates?
Cn(H2O)n
How are carbohydrates classified?
Monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides. Depending on the number of monomers in the molecule.
How are monosaccharides usually found?
In ring form
What are the bonds that hold monosaccharides together?
Glycosidic linkages
What are lipids made up of?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. The molecules are non-polar and hydrophobic.
Are saturated fats liquid or solid at room temperature?
Solid
How do we refer to a fat where the hydrogens are present on the same plane? On a different plane?
Same plane is a cis fat. Different plane is a trans fat.
Why are unsaturated fats liquid at room temperature?
The double bond prevents the molecules from packing closely together
What are the monomers for lipids?
Glycerol (three carbons, five hydrogens, three hydroxyl groups) and fatty acids
Do lipids have a true polymer?
No
What is a phospholipid?
A molecule with a phosphate head and a fatty acid tail
What structure do steroids have that makes them unique from other fatty acids?
A fused ring structure.
What groups make up amino acids?
Amino group, carboxyl group, side chain.
What is the backbone of all amino acids?
N-C-C
What bonds formed by what reaction link amino acids?
Peptide bonds formed by dehydration synthesis.
What are the four structures of proteins?
Primary (linear chain of covalent peptide bonds), secondary (alpha helix and beta pleated sheets form due to backbone interactions), tertiary (polar and non-polar side chains fold inwards or outwards depending on their reaction to water).
Not all proteins reach quaternary structure (more than one polypeptide chain forms one structure)
Changes in temperature, pH and exposure to chemicals may lead to permanent changes to the shape of protein, leading to loss of function, known as ___
Denaturation
Is denaturation reversable?
Yes.
Proteins are the only biological macromolecule that may contain…?
Sulfur
What may nucleic acids contain?
Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, phosphorus, nitrogen
