Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is a monomer
Smaller units that can make up larger molecules
What is a polymer
Made up from lots of monomers
Name the 3 monosaccharides
Glucose (a) (b)
Galactose
Fructose
What makes up the disascharride maltose
Glucose+Glucose = Maltose and water
What makes up the disaccharide lactose
Glucose+Galactose= Lactose and water
What makes up the disaccharide sucrose
Glucose+Fructose= Sucrose and water
What are the 3 polysaccharides
Starch
Glycogen
Cellulose
What are the 3 components of starch
Amylose
Amylopectin
How is starch adapted to its function.
1:4 and 1:6 glycosidic bonds.
Insoluble so doesn’t affect water potential.
Amylose = unbranched structure, helical so can be compacted.
Amylopectin = branched structure so increases surface area for rapid hydrolysis.
How is cellulose adapted to its function in a cell wall
1:4 glycosidic bonds line up straight next to each other and hydrogen bonds join them forming fibrils.
Gives high tensile strength and maintains rigidity.
Insoluble so doesn’t affect water potential.
How is glycogen adapted to its function
Branched structure.
Lots of 1:6 glycosidic bonds so bigger surface area for rapid hydrolysis.
Insoluble so doesn’t affect water potential
What is the difference between alpha and beta glucose
There hydroxyl groups are inverted.
What are the 2 lipids you must know
Triglycerides
Phospholipids
What is the structure of a Triglyceride
Glycerol, 3 fatty acids
What is the structure of a Phospholipid
Glycerol , 2 fatty acids and 1 phosphate group.
How are triglycerides formed.
Condensation reaction forming 3 ester bonds.
What is saturated
Only single bonds between carbons
What is unsaturated
At least 1 double bond between carbon atoms
How is a triglyceride adapted to its function?
Hyrdrophobic = so does not affect water potential so will not affect osmosis.
Lipids have a low mass= so a lot can be stored without more mass.
High ratio of H-O atoms they act as a metabolic water source, triglycerides can release water if oxidised.
Due to a high ratio of storing-carbon-hydrogen bonds compared to carbon atoms.
How are phospholipids adapted to there function
Hydrophilic head due to negative charge on phosphate group.
Attracts water and repels fats as it is charged.
How is the phospholipid bi layer formed?
Hydrophilic head attracts water so is on the outside but the hydrophobic tail goes on the inside away from the water as it repels water
What groups are in the amino acid
Amino group = NH2
Variable group= option of 20
Carboxyl group = OH and C=O
What is a dipeptide
Formed by 2 amino acids by a condensation reaction.
What is a polypeptide
Formed by many amino acids by a condensation reaction.
