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Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

Name the elements present in water

A

hydrogen
oxygen

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2
Q

Name the elements present in carbohydrates

A

carbon
hydrogen
oxygen

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3
Q

Name the elements present in lipids

A

carbon
hydrogen
oxygen

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4
Q

Name the elements present in proteins

A

carbon
hydrogen
oxygen
nitrogen
sulfur

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5
Q

Name the elements present in nucleic acids

A

carbon
hydrogen
oxygen
nitrogen
phosphorous

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6
Q

What are Ca2+ ions needed for?

A

nerve impulse transmission
muscle contraction

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7
Q

What are Na+ ions needed for?

A

nerve impulse transmission
kidney function

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8
Q

What are K+ ions needed for?

A

nerve impulse transmission
stomatal opening in leaves

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9
Q

What are H+ ions needed for?

A

catalysing many reactions
pH regulation, measure of acidity

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10
Q

What are NH(4)+ ions needed for?

A

used by bacteria to make nitrate ions, important in nitrogen cycle

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11
Q

What are NO(3)- ions needed for?

A

the form that plants take up nitrogen
used by plants to make proteins

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12
Q

What are HCO(3)- ions needed for?

A

help to maintain blood plasma pH

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13
Q

What are Cl- ions needed for?

A

help to balance charges of Na and K ions in cells

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14
Q

What are PO(4)3- ions needed for?

A

cell membrane formation
formation of nucleic acids and ATP
bone formation

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15
Q

What are OH- ions needed for?

A

help to catalyse reactions
help with pH regulation, measure of alkalinity

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16
Q

Define monomer

A

a small single molecule which can join to other similar molecules to make up a polymer

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17
Q

Define polymer

A

a large molecule made up of many smaller similar monomers joined together

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18
Q

Define a condensation reaction

A

a reaction which joins monomers by chemical bonds and it involves the elimination of a water molecule

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19
Q

Define a hydrolysis reaction

A

when water is added to break a chemical bond between two molecules

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20
Q

What are the features which make carbon an essential atom within biology?

A

it is tetravalent
so it can bond to 4 other atoms
and so can form long chains, branch chains and ring structures

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21
Q

What is a monosaccharide?

A

a single sugar unit that acts as a monomer for all carbohydrates

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22
Q

Give examples of monosaccharides

A

glucose
fructose
galactose

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23
Q

What is a disaccharide?

A

a molecule composed of 2 monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond

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24
Q

Give examples of disaccharides

A

maltose
sucrose
lactose

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25
Give the features of monosaccharides and disaccharides
soluble in water sweet-tasting
26
What is a polysaccharide?
a molecule composed of more than 2 monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond
27
Give examples of polysaccharides
amylose and amylopectin (which form starch) glycogen cellulose
28
Give the features of polysaccharides
amylose: compact size for storage (helical) cellulose: long insoluble chains glycogen: branching
29
What is formed when 2 alpha glucoses join together?
maltose
30
What is formed when alpha glucose and fructose join?
sucrose
31
What is formed when galactose and alpha glucose join?
lactose
32
What are the monomers of starch?
alpha glucose
33
What is the function of starch?
releases glucose for energy store of glucose in plants
34
What are the features os starch?
helical (compact) branched (high rate of hydrolysis)
35
What are the monomers of glycogen?
alpha glucose
36
What are the features of glycogen?
branches every 8-12 glucose units lots of free ends for rapid rate of hydrolysis
37
What are the monomers of cellulose?
beta glucose (B1,4 glycosidic bonds)
38
What is the function of cellulose?
part of the plant cell wall
39
What are the features of cellulose?
long cellulose microfibrils form cellulose fibrils (held together by H bonds)
40
Define saturated
only contains single bonds (can accept more H atoms)
41
Define unsaturated
contain at least 1 double bond
42
What is a lipid?
fatty acids + glycerol
43
What is a triglyceride?
3 fatty acids + a glycerol
44
Why are fatty acids a highly effective store of energy?
contain a large number of C-C and C-H bonds so 'highly dense'
45
Give 4 functions of triglycerides
insulation energy store protection of vital organs buoyancy
46
Name the bond between the fatty acids and glycerol
ester bond
47
What is a phospholipid?
2 fatty acids + a glycerol with a phosphate group attached to the glycerol
48
What are single layers of phospholipids known as?
in lipid monolayers - surfactants or miscelles
49
What are phospholipids known as in 2 layers?
bilayers or vesicles
50
What are sterols?
Complex alcohol molecules with a 4 carbon ring structure and a hydroxyl group at one end hydroxyl end is polar and hydrophilic rest of molecule is hydrophobic
51
Give the functions of cholesterol
provides rigidity to the cell membrane important for hormone production involved in water proofing
52
Describe the structure of cholesterol
3 hexagons and a pentagon
53
Name the 4 chemical groups present in all amino acids
hydrogen R group variant carboxyl amino
54
What is meant by the primary structure of a protein?
the sequence of amino acids of a polypeptide chain
55
Name the bond present in the primary structure of a protein
peptide bonds
56
What are the 2 structures of the secondary structure?
alpha helix beta pleated sheet
57
What holds the secondary structure together?
hydrogen bonds
58
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
the overall 3D structure of the protein
59
Name the bonds/interactions that hold the tertiary structure in place
hydrogen bonds ionic bonds disulfide bonds hydrophobic interactions
60
What is the quaternary structure of a protein?
the arrangement of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein complex
61
Give the 2 unique structures of a protein with a quaternary structure
prosthetic groups protein subunits
62
Give 3 properties of globular proteins
compact spherical water soluble
63
Describe why globular proteins are soluble and how this helps with their function
water molecules can interact with the hydrophilic R groups on the surface of the protein meaning they can carry out metabolism in aqueous reactions
64
Give an example of globular proteins
haemoglobin enzymes peptide hormones antibodies
65
What is a conjugated protein?
a protein containing a prosthetic group
66
How does solubility and specific 3D shape assist the globular protein insulin to carry out its function?
soluble - insulin is transported in the blood it has to bind to receptors with specific shape
67
Give the features of fibrous proteins
insoluble long thin
68
Give 5 properties of water
universal solvent cohesion (between water and other polar molecules) and adhesion (between water molecules) high specific heat capacity ice is less dense than water surface tension
69
Why is being adhesive/cohesive an important property of water?
allows long columns of water to rise up narrow tubes eg in xylem
70
Why is being a universal solvent an important property of water?
dissolved solutes react more easily than undissolved
71
Why is a high SHC an important property of water?
water as coolant - maintains a constant temp in cells so enzyme activity is optimised
72
Why is ice being less dense than water an important property?
ice forms on the surface of lakes and insulates the water below so aquatic animals do not freeze in winter
73
Why is surface tension an important property of water?
allow small insects to use the surface of water eg pond skaters
74
Why is water described as a polar molecule?
because it has slightly positively charged hydrogen atoms and slightly negative charge at oxygen atoms
75
What are the functions of collagen?
components of bones, cartilage, tendons, connective tissue
76
What are the functions of keratin?
structural components of hair, nails, epithelial cells of outer layer of skin
77
What are the functions of elastin?
provides elasticity to connective tissue, arteries, skin, lungs, cartilage, lungs
78
Describe how to test for proteins including a positive result
add biurets solution positive result: colour change from blue to purple
79
Describe how to test for lipids
add ethanol add equal volume of water shake positive result: milky white emulsion forms
80
Describe how to test for reducing sugars
add equal volume of Benedict's reagent heat in water bath to over 80' positive result: colour change from blue to orange and brick red precipitate forms
81
Describe the Benedict's test for non-reducing sugars
add 1cm^3 of HCl heat in a boiling water bath for 5mins neutralise by adding sodium carbonate solution add Benedict's positive result: orange red precipitate forms
82
Describe the test for starch
add iodine solution positive result: orange to blue-black

Biology (10 decks)

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