Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is a biological molecule?
An organic molecule produced by cells
What are some examples of biological molecules?
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Amino acids
Nucleic acids
What is an organic molecule?
Molecules that contain carbon bound to hydrogen
How do many organic molecules exist?
As monomers and polymers
Define a polymer
Many monomers in a set repeating sub-unit, forming a backbone
How are polymers formed?
hen many polymers join via a condensation reaction forming a chemical (covalent) bond, whilst expelling a molecule of water each time
What is a monomer?
A small molecule, that when in a repeating sub-unit can form a polymer via condensation reactions
True or False:
All the monomers in a polymer are identical
False- allows for different structures and codes, e.g. DNA and Proteins
What is a backbone?
The repeating sub-unit that monomers form
What does R stand for?
Variable/Radical/Rest of molecule
How are polymers reverted to monomers?
Hydrolysis reactions: a molecule of water is inserted into each bond as to break the bond, and revert the polymer into the monomers
What are the two main components of many lipids?
Glycerol and fatty acids
What is the formula of glycerol?
C3H8O3
What is the formula of fatty acids (saturated)?
COOH(CH2)nCH3
How do fatty acids join to glycerol, break from glycerol and how many molecules of water are produced?
Condensation reaction
Hydrolysis reaction
3 molecules of water
What does the fatty acid carbon chain start with?
A carboxyl (-COOH) group
How do fatty acids have varying properties?
By having varying carbon chain lengths from 12-18 carbons to 10-30, and leafing to different structures
What do complex saturated/unsaturated fatty acids have?
Sidechains such as whole molecules or oxygen
How do glycerol-based lipids exist and what is their main function?
Phospholipids (with phosphate group): Main component of cell-membrane, fluid-mosaic model
Triglycerides: Storage in adipose (body fat) tissue, insulin
Why are phospholipid heads hydrophilic?
The phosphate group allows for polarity so the water molecules will interact with the head of the phospholipid
Why are phospholipid tails hydrophobic?
There is no polarity for the water molecules to interact with, so the fatty acids will repel the molecules