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Cell Biology and Signalling > Biological Molecules > Flashcards

Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What is gen formula of carbs?

A

C6H12O6

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2
Q

What is the function of glucose?

A

Energy source

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3
Q

What is the function of glycogen?

A

Energy storage

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4
Q

What is glycosylation?

A

Sugars added to cell surface proteins - important aspect of the structure as they can differ as diff gly species attached to diff mol

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5
Q

What is the name of a sugar with 3 Cs and 2 e.gs?

A

Triose - e.g. glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone

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6
Q

What is name of sugar with 5 Cs and e.g?

A

Pentose - ribose (in DNA + RNA)

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7
Q

What is name of sugar with 6 Cs and 2 e.g.s?

A

Hexose - e.g. glucose, fructose

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8
Q

What are aldoses and e.g?

A

Carbs containing aldose group e.g glucose

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9
Q

What are ketoses and e.g?

A

Carbs containing ketone group e.g. fructose

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10
Q

In terms of optical isomers, which sugars do humans use?

A

D-sugars

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11
Q

Which is C1?

A

carbon at the end closest to the carbonyl group

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12
Q

What % of hexoses are in linear form?

A

1%

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13
Q

What is the anomeric C?

A

Carbon attached to the original carbonyl group in cyclic form

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14
Q

What is the alpha form of glucose?

A

–OH group on the anomeric carbon in the down position

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15
Q

What is the beta form of glucose?

A

–OH group on the anomeric carbon in the up pos

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16
Q

Why are alpha/beta forms important?

A

glycosidic bond formation between sugars

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17
Q

What are alpha/beta forms like in solution?

A

α and β forms are in equilibrium and interconvert

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18
Q

What is a disaccharide and 3.e.gs?

A

2 monosaccharides joined together
e.g. sucrose (glucose + fructose)
– maltose (glucose + glucose)
– lactose (galactose + glucose)

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19
Q

What is a polysaccharide and 2 e.g.s?

A

Many mono
glycogen (branched chain glucose polymer)
– amylose (linear glucose polymer)

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20
Q

What is the structure of glycogen?

A

Linear glucose polymer α(1,4) with α(1,6) branches

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21
Q

What is the process of glycogen digestion?

A

1 glucose removed from 1 end + enz act on ends
Salivary α-amylase random hydrolysis of internal α(1,4) linkages
– Continues by pancreatic α-amylase mixture of mono- and disaccharides
– Finally maltase produces glucose be absorbed by the intestinal mucosal cells

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22
Q

What does Mobilisation of glycogen in liver involve?

A

Glycogen phosphorylase hydrolyses terminal α(1,4) to produce glucose-1-phosphate

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23
Q

What is lactose intolerance and what is it caused by?

A

can’t metabolise lactose correctly
• Normally in small intestine lactase (β-galactosidase) lactose → galactose and glucose
Red activity of b-galactosidase
• undigested lactose can then be digested by bacteria in large intestine producing excess carbon dioxide and other metabolites that cause bloating, diarrhoea etc

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24
Q

What are nucleic acids?

A

Polymers of nucleotides

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25
Q

What are the functions of nucleic acids?

A

Storage of genetic information - DNA

– Conversion of genetic information into proteins -ribonucleic acid RNA

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26
Q

What does DNA and RNA stand for?

A

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid

RNA - ribonucleic acid

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27
Q

What is the structure of a nucleotide?

A

Pentose sugar
– Phosphate group
– Nitrogenous base

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28
Q

What are the DNA bases?

A

Adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine

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29
Q

What are the RNA bases?

A

Adenine, thymine, cytosine, uracil

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30
Q

Describe DNA structure

A

Long polymer of nucleotides - 2 strands
• Backbone of alternating sugar and phosphate molecules
• Complementary second strand (A:T, C:G) , hydrogen bonds between bases
• Forms helical structure
• Bases extend inwards

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31
Q

What are the 3 classes of RNA?

A

Messenger, ribosomal, transfer

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32
Q

What is mRNA?

A

copy of gene, template for protein synthesis

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33
Q

What is rRNA?

A

structural component of the ribosome (protein synthesis machinery)

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34
Q

What is tRNA?

A

transport molecule for amino acids,

ensure sequence of proteins encoded in mRNA is decoded

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35
Q

What is transcription?

A

mRNA synthesis

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36
Q

What is translation?

A

Synthesis of protein based on encoded information on mRNA

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37
Q

Compare the size and structure of RNA to DNA

A

RNA is smaller than DNA

RNA is single stranded whereas DNA is double stranded

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38
Q

What is the function of ATP?

A

major energy molecule in cells

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39
Q

How does ATP release energy?

A

Bonds between phosphates are high-energy and when broken ⇒ energy

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40
Q

What is carbohydrate?

A

Large mol made from mono

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41
Q

What is a structural function of carbs?

A

part of cell wall in bacteria

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42
Q

Why is glycosylation an important aspect of structure?

A

as diff gly species attach to diff mol

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43
Q

What are 2 properties of carbs?

A

Water sol

Hydrophilic, polar

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44
Q

What is an e.g. of a mono and what is its function?

A

Glucose - energy source - broken down to smaller mol in series of reactions releasing energy cell can use to do work
also fructose + galactose

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45
Q

What is a glycosidic bond?

A

Covalent bond between -OH group of 1 sugar + -OH group of next b y cond reaction

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46
Q

What is condensation reaction?

A

H2O mol expelled

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47
Q

What enz involved in formation + breakdown of gly bond?

A

Glycosyltransferase

48
Q

Why can’t glycosyltransferase not work for B 1,4 link/B glucoses?

A

Humans don’t have enz for formation/breakdown of cellulose

49
Q

How are glycosidic bonds broken?

A

By hydrolysis

50
Q

What is hydrolysis?

A

Water mol consumed

51
Q

What is a reducing sugar?

A

If anomeric C not attached to another mol

52
Q

Why is glycogen branched?

A

Each mono has sev free -OH groups that can form link to another mol/comp - branched - many ends of mol for enz to act - linear mol has just 1 end but many in branched - rapid breakdown of gly

53
Q

ATP hydrolysis equation

A

ATP —> ADP + energy

54
Q

ATP phosphorylation equation

A

ADP + Pi + energy —-> ATP

55
Q

What is phosphorylation?

A

Transfer of phosphate group to mol

56
Q

Which phosphate group is usually hydrolysed in ATP?

A

Last phosphate despite energy between phosphate groups being same - where enz evolved

57
Q

Why ATP and not e.g. TTP?

A

Enz only recognise ATP

58
Q

What types of reaction coupled with ATP hydrolysis?

A

Unenergetically favourable reactions through which other mol syn - transfer if terminal phos in ATP to another mol

59
Q

Sol of triacyglycerols?

A

Water-insoluble (hydrophobic) but sol in fat + org sol

60
Q

What is triacyglycerol?

A

Ester of 3 FA + glycerol

61
Q

What is function of triacylglycerols?

A

Energy storage but compared to where some O2 associated partially ox - less energy gen whereas FA has little O2 - more energy released in ox

62
Q

Where are triacylglycerols stored?

A

Adipose tissue

63
Q

What are fatty acids?

A

Long chain aliphatic carboxylic acids

64
Q

What is structure of fatty acids?

A

Long hydroC chain - hydrophobic + COOH group behaves as acid

65
Q

Properties of FA?

A

Hydrophilic

Ionised in aq sol

66
Q

Function of FA?

A

Met via B-ox pathway to gen ATP

67
Q

What is sat FA + e.g. + 2 e.g.s with shorthand?

A

no C=C e.g. palmitic acid C16:0, stearic acid C18:0

68
Q

What is unsat FA + e.g. + shorthand?

A

1/more C=C e.g. oleic acid C18:1

69
Q

What is a property of unsat FA?

A

C=C create kinks in hydroC tails interfering with ability to pack together

70
Q

What is polyunsat FA (PUFA) + e.g. + shorthand?

A

More than 1 C=C e.g. linoleic acid C18:2 (9,12)

71
Q

What does each bit of shorthand for FA mean?

A

no. after C = no. of Cs
no. after : = no. of C=C
no. in brackets = location of C=C

72
Q

What is structure of phospholipid?

A

Glycerol + 2FA andphosphate containing

group

73
Q

What is function of phospholipids?

A

2 hydrophob FA tails + hydrophilic phos-containing head - diff phys + chem properties to triacy - tightness of packing affects fluidity of mem
Form bilayer in aq env - hyrdophil tails face air + hydrophob heads in H2O

74
Q

What is structure of glycolipids?

A

Glycerol + 2FA and sugars

75
Q

What is amphipathic?

A

mol with both hydrob + hydrophil regions - polar head group + non-polar tail

76
Q

What is structure of steroids?

A

Common multi-ring structure

77
Q

What is cholesterol?

A

Small hydrophob mol with sterol backbone

78
Q

Where do u get cholesterol from?

A

diet and de novo synthesis = syn of complex mol from simple mol e.g. sugars/aa as opposed to recycling after partial degradation
Statins also involved in syn of chol

79
Q

What is role of cholesterol?

A

In membrane fluidity - mol short + rigid - fill spaces between neighbouring phospholipid mol left by kinks in unsat hydroC tails - stiffen bilayer - less flexible + permeable
Precursor of steroid hormones e.g. testosterone, oestrogen, cortisol

80
Q

What is structure of aa monomer?

A

COOH + NH2 group both linked to a-C
Side chain attached to a-C
all exist as L-forms in proteins

81
Q

What are 2 properties of aa?

A

H2O sol

electrically charged at phys pH

82
Q

How many universal aa are there?

A

20

83
Q

What is a protein?

A

Long sequences of aa linked by peptide bond in chain that folds to form 3D structure - big polypeptide

84
Q

What is a dipeptide?

A

2 aa joined togther by peptide bond

85
Q

What is a polypeptide?

A

Chain of many aa joined by peptide bonds

86
Q

What is a peptide?

A

Small protein

87
Q

What do ‘essential aa’ mean?

A

Can’t be syn de novo by humans - lack nec enz

88
Q

What are 9 essential aa?

A

Thr, met, lys, val, leu, ile, his, phe, trp

89
Q

What is 3 letter code for: asparagine, glutamine, isoleucine and tryptophan

A

Asp, gln, ile, trp

90
Q 
What is single letter code for:
asp
glu
lys, 
asn
gln
tyr
trp
,
A 
D
E
K
N
Q
Y
W
91
Q

Which aa have COOH side chain?

A

asp, glu

92
Q

Which aa have NH2 side chain?

A

arg, lys

93
Q

At phys pH, which aa side chains are -ve, polar/hydrophilic?

A

Asp, glu

94
Q

At phys pH, which aa side chains are +ve, polar/hydrophilic?

A

Arg, lys, his

95
Q

At phys pH, which aa side chains are uncharged, polar/hydrophilic?

A

Asn, gln, ser, thr, tyr

96
Q

At phys pH, which aa side chains are non-polar/hydrophoic?

A

Ala, gly, val, leu, ile, pro, phe, met, trp, cys

97
Q

Which aa have ketone side chain?

A

Asp, gln

98
Q

Which aa have OH side chain?

A

Ser, thr

99
Q

Which aa have aromatic side chain?

A

Tyr, phe, trp, pro, his

100
Q

Which aa have aliphatic side chain?

A

Gly, ala, val, leu, ile

101
Q

Which aa have sulphur side chain?

A

Met, cys

102
Q

What are some other roles of glu, gln, tyr, his, trp

A 
Glu - MSG taste enhancement
Gln - neurotransmitters
Try - syn of epinephrine, dopamine
His - syn of histamine
Trp - syn of serotonin
103
Q

What is N-terminus?

A

Amino group end of polypeptide

104
Q

What is C-terminus?

A

Carboxyl group at other end of polypeptide?

105
Q

What is hydrolysis of peptide bond by?

A

Enz in digestion/lysosome

106
Q

What type of reaction is peptide bond formed and by what?

A

Cond reaction by enz

107
Q

What is pKa?

A

Measure of ease with which side groups in aa give their protons

108
Q

What happens to aa at phys pH?

A

COOH and NH2 groups attached to a-C fully ionised

109
Q

What is the pka of a-COOH group in aa?

A

2.3

110
Q

What is the pka of a- NH2 group in aa?

A

9.8

111
Q

Which pka is relevant in polypeptides?

A

R groups not the a groups as they’re pare of peptide bond and so have influence on structure + function of proteins

112
Q

Which 5 aa side chains form ions in sol and carry charge?

A

Asp, glu, his, lys

113
Q

Which aa can change during bio pH?

A

His

114
Q

What is pk of asp and what happens to COOH r group above and below it?

A

4.7
above 4.7: COO-
below 4.7: COOH

115
Q

What is pk of glu and what happens to COOH r group above and below it?

A

4.7
above 4.7: COO-
below 4.7: COOH

116
Q

What is pk of his and what happens to COOH r group above and below it?

A

6.5
above 6.5: N
below: NH+

117
Q

What is pk of lys and what happens to COOH r group above and below it?

A

10.2
above 10.2: NH2
below 10.2: NH3+

Cell Biology and Signalling (7 decks)

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