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Module 2- Biological Basics > Biological Molecules > Flashcards

Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What are the four key elements of life?

A

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Nitrogen (plus Phosphorous and Sulfur)

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2
Q

How many bonds can these four elements form?

A

Hydrogen- 1
Oxygen- 2
Nitrogen- 3
Carbon- 4

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3
Q

What makes a molecule organic?

A

The presence of carbon in it’s chemical composition.

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4
Q

What is a net positive ion also known as?

A

Cation

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5
Q

What is a net negative ion also known as?

A

Anion

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6
Q

Name 5 cations and their functions.

A

CASPH Calcium- muscle contraction and nerve transmission. Ammonium- production of nitrate ions. Sodium- nerve transmissiona and kidney function. Potassium- nerve transmission and stomatal opening. Hydrogen- Catalysis of reactions, pH determination

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7
Q

Name 5 anions and their functions.

A

PHHNC Phosphate ions- cell membrane formation

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8
Q

Define a polymer.

A

A long chain molecule formed of repeating subunits.

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9
Q

Define a polar molecule.

A

A molecule with regions of negative charge and regions of positive charge due to uneven sharing of electrons. An example of this is water.

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10
Q

Why and how do polar molecules interact with eachother?

A

The positive and negative regions of the molecules attract eachother and form relatively weak bond called a hydrogen bond.

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11
Q

Why does ice float?

A

Because when water freezes hydrogen bonds fix the distance between molecules far apart, leaving air spaces. with water in a tetrahedral arrangement.

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12
Q

What is the name of a singular sugar unit?

A

Monosaccharide

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13
Q

What do galactose and glucose form?

A

A disaccharide- lactose

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14
Q

What is a polymer of monosaccharide subunits called?

A

A polysaccharide

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15
Q

What are the two structural variations of glucose, and how do they vary?

A

Alpha and Beta, Beta have an inverse hydroxyl group on carbon 1.

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16
Q

What is the reaction between two alpha glucose molecules?

A

Condesation reaction

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17
Q

What is a lipid formed of?

A

A glycerol and fatty acids

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18
Q

Describe the difference between a triglyceride and a phospholipid

A

Triglyceride- three fatty acids, phospholipid- two fatty acids and a phosphate group.

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19
Q

What is the role of cholesterol in the cell membrane?

A

Maintains fluidity

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20
Q

How do glycerol and fatty acid molecules interact?

A

Hydroxyl groups interact, forming ester bonds in a condensation reaction called esterification.

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21
Q

What is the name of the bond between two monosaccharides?

A

Glycosidic bond

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22
Q

What is formed from fructose and glucose?

A

Sucrose

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23
Q

How is glucose stored to conserve energy in plants?

A

In two different polysaccharides known collectively as starch.

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24
Q

What two polysaccharides is starch composed of?

A

Amylose (20%) and Amylopectin (80%)

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25
Q

Why does amylose twist?

A

It is made of alpha glucose molecules bonded by 1-4 glycosidic bonds, and the angle of these bonds means a helix (stabilised by hydrogen bonding) forms.

26
Q

What is the structural difference between amylopectin and amylose

A

Every 20 units, amylopectin forms a 1,6 glycosidic bond forming a brancing molecule.

27
Q

How is glucose stored in animals to conserve energy?

A

Ina starch molecule called glycogen.

28
Q

How does glycogen conserve more energy than starch?

A

Because it forms 1,6 bonds every 10 unuts, which means the animal has more energy for movement

29
Q

Describe the structure of cellulose

A

Made from repeating beta glucose units, with every other molecule turned upside down so the hydroxyl groups can interact properly. It is unable to coil because of this structure so forms a straight chain molecule.

30
Q

Name the groups of cellulose

A

Cellulose molecules, microfibrils, macrofibrils, fibres.

31
Q

Describe the function of cellulose

A

Strong and insoluble, used in the digestive system (fibre)

32
Q

How do we test for reducing sugars?

A

Benedict’s reagent, as reucing sugar react with copper ions

33
Q

How do we test for non reducing sugars?

A

Benedict’s reagent boiled with HCL.

34
Q

How do we test for starch?

A

Iodine solution- blue/black

35
Q

What is a fatty acid?

A

A carboxylic acid (carboxyl group attatched to a hydrocarbon chain.

36
Q

What is glycerol?

A

An alcohol

37
Q

What is a saturated fatty acid?

A

No double carbon bonds, meaning no kinks in the structure. Liquid (oil) at room temperature.

38
Q

What is an unsaturated fatty acid?

A

Double carbon bonds forming kinks in the structure. They are solid (fats) at room temperature, as the kinks allow them to pack closely together.

39
Q

Define a macromolecule

A

A large molecule not composed of repeating subunits.

40
Q

How can we identify a lipid?

A

The emulsion test. Mix the sample with ethanol.

41
Q

Name the order of protein structure

A

Amino acid (monomer), peptide (polymer), protein.

42
Q

Describe the basic structure of an amino acid.

A

An R (variable) group, an amine group and a carboxylic group.

43
Q

How do amino acids bond together?

A

Interactions between hydroxyl group and amine group, forming a peptide bond in a condensation reaction.

44
Q

Which enzyme catalyses peptide formation?

A

peptidyl transferase

45
Q

How do polypetides form into proteins?

A

Interactions between R groups and other bonds

46
Q

Describe the levels of protein structure

A
  1. Primary- sequence of amino acids
  2. Secondary- Alpha helix and beta pleated sheets 3. Tertiary- folding of protein into its final shape
  3. Quaternary- association between individual subunits
47
Q

Name the key characteristics of globular proteins

A

Compact and water soluble, with hydrophilic R groups pointing outwards.

48
Q

Name the basic characteristics of fibrous proteins

A

Long, insoluble molecules, due to a high proportion of hydrophobic R groups.

49
Q

Give some examples of fibrous proteins

A

Keratin, Collagen, Elastin

50
Q

Name the two types of nucleic acid

A

DNA and RNA

51
Q

What is the monomer for a nucleic acid?

A

Nucleotide

52
Q

What are the bonds between nucleotides called?

A

Phosphodiester bonds

53
Q

What is the difference between a purine and a pyrimidine?

A

Pyrimidine has one carbon ring, purine has a double carbon ring

54
Q

What is the difference between deoxyribose and ribose?

A

Ribose has an extra oxygen

55
Q

Name the two purines

A

Guanine and adenine

56
Q

Name the two pyrimidines?

A

Thymine and cytosine

57
Q

Describe the structure of ATP

A

A nitrogenous base (adenine), a ribose sugar and three phosphate molecules

58
Q

How does ATP release energy? Describe in 2 steps

A
  1. Water is used in a hydrolysis reaction to remove a phosphate group from ATP 2. ADP and an inorganic phosphate ion form, and energy is released
59
Q

Why is ATP not a good energy store?

A

Instable phosphate bonds

60
Q

What happens in cellular respiration?

A

Energy released from the breakdown of storage molecules is used to add an inorganic phosphate to ADP, in a process called phosphorylation.

61
Q

Name some properties of ATP

A

small, water soluble, releases energy in small quantities, easily regenerated

Module 2- Biological Basics (6 decks)

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