Biological Molecules Flashcards
What are monomers, what are they called and what is their general formula ?
- Called monosaccharides
- Simplest ‘simple sugar’
- General formula (CH2O) N , where N is a number between 3 and 7
What reaction forms two carbohydrate a-glucose monosaccharides and what bond holds them together
Condensation reaction
Held together by a glycosidic bond
What is an isomer?
A molecule with the same formula but a different structural formula (variation)
What is the general formula for the group of sugars which include glucose, fructose and galactose?
(CH2O)n
What are the polymers formed from a-glucose and b-glucose and what is their role in living organisms?
A-glucose = starch , used as an energy store
B-glucose = cellulose, used in the cell wall of plants
What kind of sugar is found in genetic material?
Penrose sugar
What are the polysaccharide energy stores in plants and animals?
Animals - glycogen
Plant- Amylose and amylopectin
What makes polysaccharides good energy stores?
Contains glycogen which is compact meaning it doesn’t take up much space
Holds glucose molecules in chains meaning that they can be ‘snipped off’ for a fast energy source
Why are polysaccharides used as energy stores and not monosaccharides?
Polysaccharides are less soluble in water than monosaccharides
If many glucose molecules dissolved in the cytoplasm, the water potential would reduce and excess water would diffuse in, disrupting the cell
Give two similarities and two differences between plant and animal polysaccharide energy stores
Similarities -
• glycogen has 1-4 glycosidic bonds like amylopectin and amylose
• glycogen has glycosidic bonds 1-6 like amylopectin
Differences -
• amylose and amylopectin coil into a spiral shape whereas glycogen doesn’t as it’s bounded chains are smaller
Which enzymes are used to break the polysaccharide chains/branches?
Amylase (breaks 1-4 glycosidic linkages) and glucosidase (breaks 1-6 glycosidic linkages)
Explain how disaccharides and split into monosaccharides
Though hydrolysis
Hydrolysis provides the hydroxyl group
(-OH) and the hydrogen which help the glycosidic bond to break
Describe the basic structure of amylose
Long chain of a-glucose molecules
Glycosidic bonds between carbon 1-4
Describe the basic structure of amylopectin
1-4 glycosidic bonds
Also had 1-6 glycosidic bonds in its branches
Describe the structure of glycogen
1-4 glycosidic bonds
Branches formed by 1-6 glycosidic bonds
