biological molecules

Question 1

what are the building blocks of biological molecules?

Answer 1

amino acids, nucleobases, simple carbohydrates, glycerol, fatty acids, hydrocarbon rings

Question 2

what are the macromolecules formed from these building blocks?

Answer 2

proteins, DNA,RNA, complex carbohydrates, lipids

Question 3

what supramolecular assemblies are formed from the macromolecules

Answer 3

membranes, ribosomes, chromatin

Question 4

what organelles are made from the supramolecular assemblies

Answer 4

nucleus, mitochondria, golgi, ER

Question 5

what is a nucleotide?

Answer 5

single monomer building black, made of a phosphate group, ribose sugar and base

Question 6

what is a polynucelotide

Answer 6

polymer of nucleotide with the 5th carbon on the pairing nucleotide (same for RNA and DNA)

Question 7

proteins are:

Answer 7

polymers of amino acids
Function: these molecules are what a cell uses to perform its function within the entire organism
Proteins perform a variety of biological functions

Question 8

what are the different types of proteins?

Answer 8

Structural - Collagen - found in skin and bones
regulatory - Insulin - a peptide hormone
contractile - Actin, myosin - muscle proteins
transport - Haemoglobin - carries oxygen
Cytochrome - e.g. carries electrons

storage - Egg white and seed proteins
Protective - Antibodies - immune proteins

Catalytic - RNA polymerase - enzymes
Hydrolytic in lysosomes
Toxic- Botulinum toxin, diphtheria toxin

Question 9

what are the four types of carbohydrates

Answer 9

1. Monosaccharides
   This is a simple carbohydrate, can also be referred to as a sugarThere are two different types of monosaccharides, they are not named after the shape but how many carbon atoms are present in the molecule.
   Either 6 (hexose) or 5 (pentose)
2. Disaccharides
   This is a simple carbohydrate, can also be referred to as a sugar
   3. Oligosaccharides
      Several monosaccharides linked together (3-10)
      This is a complex carbohydrate
   4. Polysaccharides
      This is a complex carbohydrate
      Larger number of monosaccharides linked together
      Different types depend on the arrangement and bonds between them

Question 10

what are the functions of carbohydrates?

Answer 10

recognition, energy and structure

Question 11

lipids:

Answer 11

They are non-polymeric macromolecules, and are hydrophobic, lipids are classified by the fact they are hydrophobic, the more hydrophobic the more they will repel water.
They are also heterogeneous
- Triacylglycerols (fats)
- Steroids
- Phospholipids
- Glycolipids
- Fat soluble vitamins

Functions of lipids

1. Structural E.g. cholesterol and phospholipids, found in the cells membrane, a polar head and two non-polar hydrophobic tails
2. Regulatory Hormones or steroids which regulate different processes in your body, cholesterol for example can be used to make testosterone and can be used to then make oestrogen
3. Energy  Energy is stored as a fat molecule called triacylglycerol, there are far more carbons to be oxidised compared to carbohydrates which explains why fats give you more energy than carbohydrates