Biological molecules Flashcards
What is a monomer?
single unit
What is a polymer?
loads repeating units of monomers
What are the monomers of a protein?
amino acids
how are the monomers of a protein joined together?
peptide bond
What is the polymer of glucose, and what bond is it joined by?
Starch and joined by glycosidic bonds
What monomers make up DNA, using which bond?
Nucleotides, using a phosphodiester bond.
Name three types of carbohydrates.
- monosaccharides
- disaccharides
- polysaccharides
Name three types of monosaccharides
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Galactose
name three examples of disaccharides:
- sucrose
- maltose
- lactose
Name three examples of polysaccharides:
- glycogen
- cellulose
- starch
Give a function of a carbohydrate:
its an energy metabolism and storage of energy which is starch in plants and glycogen in animals.
What is the function of lipids?
- energy source
- component of cellular membranes
- water - repellant barrier
describe the structure of triglycerides
made up of 3 fatty acids attached to a molecule of glycerol.
what is the function of triglycerides?
insulate and protect internal organs
- stored in adipose tissue
Describe the structure of phospholipids:
two fatty acids + 1 glycerol + short polar functional group containing nitrogen
What is the function of phospholipids?
Form plasma membrane around all cells.
name two types of steroids
cholesterol
oestrogen and testosterones
What is cholesterol?
- components of cell membrane
- helps to stabilise phospholipid bilayer of cell membranes.
explain the structure of an amino acid?
- NH2 - (amino group)
- COOH (carboxylic acid)
- R (variable group)
- H (hydrogen)
what are the 4 levels of protein structure?
- primary
- secondary
- tertiary
- quaternary
Explain the primary structure of a protein?
order of amino acids
explain the secondary structure of a protein.
hydrogen bonding on peptide backbone which causes amino acids to fold into a repeating pattern.
explain the tertiary structure of a protein.
3D folding patterns due to side chain interactions - disulphide bridges
explain the quaternary structure of protein.
proteins consisting of more than one amino acid chain.