Biological Molecules Flashcards
Hydrolysis reaction
Breaks a chemical bond between two molecules and involves the use of a molecule of water.
functions of carbohydrates
sources of energy
stores of energy
structural units
formula for monosaccharides
CnH2nOn
examples of monosaccharides
a-glucose
b-glucose
b-galactose
What are monosaccharides like?
Sweet tasting and soluble in water.
Maltose
A-glucose and a-glucose
Sucrose
A- glucose + fructose
Lactose
B-galactose + a-glucose
Cellulose
Long unbranched chains of b-glucose. Microfibrils are strong threads made of long cellulose chains running parallel to one other that are joined by h bonds. Stops cell wall bursting under osmotic pressure as it exerts inwards pressure. Cells stay rigid.
Starch
Plant cells
Energy store and source
A-glucose monomers joined by glycosidic bonds in a condensation reaction.
20-30% made of amylose(unbranched)
70-80% made of amylopectin (branched)
Glycogen
Animal cells
Energy store and source
A- glucose monomers
Dense granules in liver cells
Branched 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds so has many ends for glucose monomers to be removed when needed for respiration.
What are isomers?
Two or more molecules with the same molecular formula but who differ structurally.
Qualitative tests
If sample (carbohydrates) is present or not
Quantitative tests
How much of substance is present
Testing for reducing sugars
Benedicts reagent which is Copper (II) sulphate.
Add 2cm3 of food sample. Add 2cm3 of bendedicts reagent. ) Heat in water bath for 5 mins and if colour turns brick red there’s a pos result.
Testing for non-reducing sugars
Carry out reducing sugar test
Add HCl which hydrolyses disaccharides and polysaccharides into monosaccharides and put in water bath for 5 mins.
Add sodium hydrogencarbonate to neutralise test.
Add Benedict’s Reagent and place in water bath again. Colour turns brick red.
functions of lipids
source of energy in human diet
store of energy
helps to insulate body
around internal organs for protection
waterproofing
part of the structure of membranes
Trigylcerides
Glycerol and 3 fatty acids.
Non-polar so are hydrophobic and do not dissolve in water.
Contain a large number of carbon and hydrogen atoms so a great deal of energy can be released from triglycerides.
Glycerol
A 3 carbon molecule with an OH group bonded to each of the 3 carbons.
Saturated fatty acids
No C-C double covalent bonds
Mono-unsaturated fatty acids
A single double covalent bonds between carbon atoms
Polyunsaturated fatty acids
More then one double covalent bond between carbon atoms
formation of triglycerides
Glycerol molecule and fatty acid molecule react together to form an ester bond - esterification.
We also make a molecule of water so it’s a condensation rection.
Carry out reaction with 2 more fatty acid molecules.
Phospholipid
2 fatty acids+ glycerol + phosphate
Fatty acid tails are non-polar so are repelled by water. Hydrophobic.
When surrounded by water the phosphate group has a neg charge so is polar so the phosphate head is attracted to water. Hydrophilic.
Cholesterol
A lipid. Is hydrophobic and sits inbetween the fatty acid tails in the middle of the hydrophobic layer.
amino group
NH2
what is a gene
a sequence of bases on a DNA molecule that codes for a sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
DNA triplets
specific sequences in sets of threes which don’t overlap.
each triplet encodes for a singe amino acid.
there are 64 DNA triplets which code for 20 amino acids.
what elements do amino acids contain?
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur
(cysteine is the only amino acid that contains sulphur in it’s R group)