Biological Molecules Flashcards
four major classes of biological macromolecules
(carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)
qualifies as the “foundation” element for molecules in living things.
carbon
simplest organic carbon molecule
methane (CH4)
provide energy to the body, particularly through glucose, a simple sugar.
carbohydrates
Carbohydrates can be represented by the formula
(CH2O)n
Carbohydrates are classified into three subtypes:
monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
are simple sugars, the most common of which is glucose.
Plants synthesize glucose using carbon dioxide and water by the process of
photosynthesis
The excess synthesized glucose is often stored as
starch
form when two monosaccharides undergo a dehydration reaction
Disaccharides
a reaction in which the removal of a water molecule occurs
dehydration reaction
Common disaccharides include
lactose, maltose, and sucrose
is a disaccharide formed from a dehydration reaction between two glucose molecules
maltose
A long chain of monosaccharides linked by covalent bonds is known as a
polysaccharide
examples of polysaccharides.
Starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin
are hydrophobic (“water-fearing”), or insoluble in water, because they are nonpolar molecules
lipids
Lipids include
fats, oils, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids.
such as a triglyceride, consists of two main components—glycerol and fatty acids.
A fat molecule
have a long chain of hydrocarbons to which an acidic carboxyl group is attached, hence the name
“fatty acid.”
bad” cholesterol
low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
is mainly synthesized in the liver and is the precursor of many steroid hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol
cholesterol
are made up of a hydrocarbon chain with an alcohol (–OH) group and a fatty acid.
waxes
one of the most abundant organic molecules in living systems and have the most diverse range of functions of all macromolecules.
proteins
which are produced by living cells, are catalysts in biochemical reactions (like digestion) and are usually proteins.
enzyme
are chemical signaling molecules
hormones
globular protein
hemoglobin
Fibrous protein
collagen
permanent changes in the shape of the protein
denaturation
an important component of the molecular machinery that harvests energy from glucose.
Cytochrome c
Sequence of a chain of amino acids
Primary protein structure
Hydrogen bonding of the peptide backbone causes the amino acids to fold into a repeating
Secondary protein structure
Protein consisting of more than one amino acid chain
Quaternary protein structure
Three-dimensional folding pattern of protein due to side chain interactions
Tertiary protein structure
are key macromolecules in the continuity of life. They carry the genetic blueprint of a cell and carry instructions for the functioning of the cell.
Nucleic acid
Each nucleotide is made up of three components:
a pentose (five-carbon) sugar, and a phosphate group
is the storage form of glucose in humans and other vertebrates, and is made up of monomers of glucose.
Glycogen
is one of the most abundant natural biopolymers.
cellulose
Cellulose passing through our digestive system is called
Dietary fiber
can break down cellulose into glucose monomers that can be used as an energy source by the animal.
Cellulases
are the major constituent of the plasma membrane
Phospholipids
