Biological Molecules Flashcards
-H
Hydrogen
-OH
Hydroxyl
-COOH
Carboxyl
-NH2
Amino
-H2PO
Phosphate
-CH3
Methyl
Peptide Bond
Bond formed between two molecules when the carboxyl group of one molecule reacts with the amino group of the other molecule
Usually occurs between amino acids
Hydrolysis
How polymers are disassembled into monomers
Carbohydrates
Contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the consistant ratio of 1:2:1
Monosaccharides
One sugar molecule
glucose, fructose, galactose
Disaccharides
Two sugar molecules
sucrose
lactose
maltose
Polysaccharides
many sugar molecules
starch
glycogen
cellulose
Lipids
Contain large regions of H and C atoms joined by non-polar covalent bonds
Non-polar regions are hydrophobic
Three major groups of lipids
Oils, fats, waxes
Phospholipids
steroids
Oils, Fats, Waxes
Contain only C, H and O atoms
Composed of one or more fatty acids attached to a glycerol subunit
Straight chains
Source of energy
Fatty Acids
Chains that have no C=C bonds are said to be SATURATED with H
Chains that have C=C bonds are said to be unsaturated with H atoms
Saturated fatty acid chains are straight
Unsaturated fatty acid chains are kinked
Oils are liquid at room temperature because they are unsaturated
Waxes are solid at room temperature because they are saturated
Phospholipids
Similar to the structure of fats, waxes, and oils except one of the fatty acid chains are replaced by a phosphate group containing a polar functional group
Two fatty acid chains are hydrophobic
Phosphate head is hydrophilic
Basic component of membranes
Steroids
Composed of four rings of carbon fused with various functional groups
Synthesized from cholesterol
functions as hormones and components of animal cell membranes
Proteins
Polymers of amino acid subunits
Bond between amino acid subunits is called peptide bond
diversity of proteins is due to diversity of amino acids and the ways they arrange themselves
function as enzymes, structural components, transport proteins, energy storage and cross membrane transport
Amino Acids
Composed of a central C atom bonded to four different functional groups
- Amino group (-NH2)
- Carboxylic acid group (-COOH)
- Hydrogen group (-H)
- Variable group (R)
Importance of R group in amino acids
Creates diversity
affects the structure of the protein
Protein Structure
Four levels of structure
- Primary structure: Sequence of amino acids in linear protein polymer
- Secondary structure: simple repeating pattern created by hydrogen bonding between amino acid subunits (Could be helix or plated sheet)
- Complex 3 dimensional shape formed by the folding over of the secondary structure
- Due to the joining together of smaller proteins in order to form a larger protein complex
Nucleic Acids
Polymers of nucleotide subunits Composed of: 1. 5 Carbon sugar 2. Phosphate group 3. N containing base Diversity in the N containing bases that creates diversity in nucleotides
