Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is a monomer?
Monomers are small units which larger molecules are made up of
Examples of monomers
Monosaccharides, amino acids and nucleotides
What is a polymer?
A polymer is a molecule made out of a large chain of monomers joined together
What is a condensation reaction
A condensation reaction joins two molecules together with the formation ofa hydrogen bond and eliminates water molecules
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
A hydrolysis reaction is a break of the chemical bond between two molecules and uses water molecules
What are carbohydrates made out of?
They are made out of monosaccharides
What are the most common type of monosaccharide
Glucose, fructose and galactose
What bond is formed from a condensation reaction in carbohydrates?
A glycosidic bond is formed
Types of dissaccharides
Sucrose= glucose + fructose
Maltose= glucose + glucose
Lactose= glucose + galactose
Isotopes of glucose
Alpha glucose, beta glucose
Structure of alpha glucose
In alpha glucose the hydroxyl group is known the same side. This means the alpha glucose is more reactive to enzymes meaning it is easier to break down.
Structure of beta glucose
Beta glucose has the hydroxyl groups on opposite size of the molecule which makes the molecule more stable
Polysaccharides of a-glucose
Glycogen and starch
Polysaccharide of B-glucose
Cellulose
What types of sugar is glucose made out of?
Hexose sugar which has 6 carbon atoms
Starch
Monosaccharide: a-glucose
Structure: mixture of amylose and amylopectin. Amylose- long unbranched forms coiled shape. Amylopectin- long branched chain due to 1-6 glycosidic bonds.
Properties: amylose= coiled shape makes it compact to store I’m small spaces. Amylopectin= branched chain increases surface area for enzymes to hydrolyse glycosidic bonds- glucose released faster.
Uses: plant uses starch to store excess glucose. Starch can also be hydrolysed.
Glycogen
Monosaccharide: a-glucose
Structure: long branched chain with lots of side branches. 1-6 glycosidic bonds
Properties: lots of branches increases the surface area so allows enzymes to hydrolyse glycosidic bonds allowing glucose to be released fast. compact molecule- good for storage.
Uses: animals store excess glucose as glycogen in muscles and the liver. Glycogen can be hydrolysed and turned in glucose to be released when glucose is needed for respiration.