Biological molecules Flashcards

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1
Q

Amylose (f212 June 14 2ci)

A
coiled;
(contains) α / alpha / A / a ,-glucose;
α / alpha / A / a 1-4 glycosidic bonds;
all monomers in same orientation;
granular/ not fibrous;
H bonds within molecule/ no (H) bonds (between
molecules);
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2
Q

Cellulose (f212 june14 2ci)

A

no coiling;
(contains) β / beta / B / b , -glucose;
β / beta / B / b 1-4 glycosidic bonds;
alternate monomers at , 180°, to each other; [every second one is flipped]
fibrous / not granular; [fibres / microfibrils / fibrils / macrofibrils]
(H) bonds between adjacent molecules; [‘(cross)links’ for ‘bonds]

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3
Q

Which properties of cellulose make it suitable for forming cell walls? (F212 June 14 2cii)

A

(tensile) strength / strong ; [mechanical strength]
(H) bonds / links , can form (between adjacent fibrils) ; [fibres / microfibrils / fibrils / macrofibrils/ crosslinks]
insoluble ;

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4
Q

Hydrogen bonds also form between water molecules.
(i) Describe the formation of a hydrogen bond between two molecules of water and explain
why water can form these bonds. (3mks) f212 june14 4bi

A

[diagram with 2 water molecules, H bond, delta charges = 2mks]
1 between O and H (of adjacent molecules) ;
2 between , electropositive / δ+ / delta+ (H), and ,
electronegative / δ- / delta- (O) ;
3 water molecule , is polar / has charge separation ;

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5
Q

Hydrogen bonds allow water to act as a solvent.

Why is the ability of water to act as a solvent important for the survival of organisms? (3mks) f212 June 14 4bii

A

1) medium for (metabolic) reactions ; [reactions can happen in water; supports metabolic reactions]
2) (because) allows (named) ionic compound(s) to
separate ;
3) transport ;
4) two named transport , systems / media OR one example of a transport , medium / system , with a
named example of what is transported ;
5) (organisms can) absorb / take in , (named) minerals /
ions / (named) gas / food ; [apoplast / sap / blood / symplast / vacuolar pathway / blood / lymph / xylem / phloem / tissue fluid / CSF]
6) able to dilute toxic substances ;

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6
Q

Name the type of reaction involved in breaking this bond (peptide) and describe what happens in this reaction. F212 2015 q1aii

A

hydrolysis ;
water / H2O , is , added / used / needed
(OH and H put back on amino acid; broken down using water)

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7
Q

Describe the differences between globular and fibrous proteins using haemoglobin and
collagen as examples (8mks)
In your answer you should refer to collagen and haemoglobin. F212 2015 q2c

A

Globular:
G1 ball (shaped) / spherical;
G2 hydrophilic , (R-)groups / regions , on outside (of 3-D
structure) / hydrophobic (R-)groups on inside;
G3 form H-bonds with water;
G4 soluble;
G5 example of globular protein (other than haemoglobin); [(named) enzyme / hormone / antibody /
channel / carrier]
H1 haemoglobin , carries / transports, oxygen / carbon
dioxide; [refs to buffering]
H2 haemoglobin contains , prosthetic group / haem / Fe2+/ iron ion (to allow oxygen to be carried);
H3 (polypeptide chains within) haemoglobin have tertiary structure (in a ball shape); [haemoglobin has tertiary structure]
Fibrous:
F1 linear / long (chain); [straight / rope-like]
F2 (chains can) form (H) bonds with adjacent , chains
(within a molecule); [ ‘strand’ as AW for ‘chain’ for F2
only; crosslink as AW for bond for F2 only]
F3 insoluble / few hydrophilic groups;
F4 strong / provide strength;
F5 have structural role;
C1 collagen has high proportion of glycine , so chains can lie close together;
C2 collagen forms , crosslinks / covalent bonds , between molecules; [(micro / macro) fibrils / fibres , as AW for molecules]
C3 crosslinks / ends of molecules, are staggered to avoid , weak points; [(micro / macro) fibrils / fibres , as AW for molecules]
C4 collagen forms part of, tendon / cartilage / ligament / bone / connective tissue / bronchi / bronchioles /
trachea / skin;

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8
Q

Describe how to do the emulsion test for lipids and how a positive result would be identified (2mks) f212 june 2015 q7b

A

mix with / add , ethanol / alcohol , and water;

(goes) cloudy; [milky / white (emulsion)]

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9
Q

Lipids form an essential part of a balanced diet. Some food, such as mycoprotein, is produced by microorganisms.
How might the lipid content of mycoprotein differ from food that comes from animals? (2mks) f212 june15 q7c

A

less (overall , lipid / fat) ; [ no / less , cholesterol meat has more]
less / no , saturated (fat / lipid / fatty acids) ; [meat has more]
more unsaturated (fat / lipid / fatty acids) ; [meat has less]

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10
Q

State one property of collagen that makes it a useful component of blood vessel walls. f212 june13 q1bi

A

strength / toughness /insolubility; [strong / tough]

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11
Q

Describe the structure of the collagen molecule.

(6mks) f212 june13 q1bii

A

1 peptide bonds , between amino acids / in polypeptide;
2 every 3rd amino acids is, same / glycine; [high proportion of / 35% , glycine / same amino acid]
3 coil / twist / spiral / helix; [in context of single polypeptide or 3 polypeptides]
4 left-handed (helix); [‘α-helix, which is left handed’]
5 glycine / small R group, allows closeness / twisting (of polypeptide chains);
6 three polypeptide chains;
7 hydrogen / H , bonds between (polypeptide)
chains;
8 no / few, hydrophilic (R) groups on outside (of
molecule);
9 (adjacent molecules joined by) crosslinks; [covalent bonds between adjacent molecules]
10 crosslinks / ends of molecules , being staggered;
11 fibril;

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12
Q

Haemoglobin contains a prosthetic group known as haem. Collagen does not contain a prosthetic group.
Describe three other ways in which the structure of haemoglobin differs from that of collagen. f212 june13 q1cii

A

haemoglobin (has/ is):

1) globular;
2) hydrophobic (R) groups on inside / hydrophilic (R) groups on outside;
3) 4, chains / sub-units / polypeptides;
4) subunits are (two) different types; [in haemoglobin the subunits are not all the same] [“two alpha and two beta chains” = 2 marks]
5) α/ alpha, helix;
6) proportion of glycine similar to that, of other amino acids / in other proteins; [wide(r) range of amino acids]

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13
Q

Using the information in Fig. 2.1, explain why alcohol dehydrogenase is able to break
down both ethanol and DEG. (3mks) f212 june13 q2bi

A

1 similar, shape / structure; [‘ethanol same shape as part of DEG’]
2 example of similarity; [they both have OH]
3 both, will fit into/ complementary (shape) to/ bind to / bond to , active site (of alcohol dehydrogenase);

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14
Q

Suggest why DEG-contaminated wines with a high ethanol content may result in less DEG poisoning than contaminated wines with a low ethanol content. (3mks) f212 june13 q2bii

A

1 (ethanol) competes with DEG; [ethanol / DEG= competitive inhibitor]
2 (when at high(er) concentration) ethanol more likely to , collide with / bind to/ bond to, active site; [‘ethanol more likely to form ESC’]
3 less , DEG breakdown / toxic product; [ DEG product is diluted; no DEG breakdown]

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15
Q

State two ways in which a diagram of part of an RNA molecule would appear different from the DNA molecule shown in Fig. 5.1. F212 june13 5aiv

A

(usually) single stranded / would not have 2 strands; [only one backbone]
uracil / U, instead of thymine / T;

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16
Q

Lipids are used for energy storage and as a respiratory substrate. List three other roles of lipids in the human body. f212 jan13 4bi

A

membranes ; [ ‘phospholipid bilayer’ ]
absorption of fat soluble vitamins;
electrical insulation / insulation of , neurones / nerve
cells / axons ; [ insulation in context of myelin / Schwann cells]
(thermal) insulation ;
protection of organs ;
(source of) (steroid) hormones / named steroid hormone / named group of steroid hormones ; [ e.g. testosterone, oestrogen, progesterone, aldosterone ,
glucocorticoids, androgens ]
(source of) cholesterol / LDL / HDL ;
waterproofing / skin suppleness / sebum ; [ear wax ]
source of vitamin D ;
buoyancy ;

17
Q

Describe how you would carry out this test on a food sample 3mks f212 jan13 4dii

A

emulsion test
1 add , ethanol / alcohol , (to sample)
2 shake / stir / agitate / mix thoroughly / AW
3 add (to) water
If candidate is clearly describing Sudan III test
5 mix sample with water
6 add Sudan III (stain)
7 shake / stir / agitate / mix thoroughly / AW
If candidate is describing translucent grease mark test
AWARD one mark only

18
Q

Describe the structural relationship between deoxyribose and the other components of the
DNA molecule 3mks. f212 jan13

A

part of nucleotide;
bonded / joined / attached , to (named) base and
phosphate ;
phosphate (joined) to C5 (and C3)/ base (joined) to C1;
(deoxyribose is part of) backbone (of DNA);
idea of linking with (second) phosphate on adjacent
nucleotide;
nucleotide is , monomer / repeating unit ,of DNA /
polynucleotide;

19
Q

State and explain two ways in which the glucose molecule is well suited to its function in
living organisms. f212 jan13

A

soluble so can be (easily) , transported / carried
(around organism);
small (molecule) so can , be transported / diffuse ,
across (cell) membranes;
easily / quickly , respired / oxidised / broken down , to ,
release energy / produce ATP;
molecules can , join / AW , to produce , (named)
disaccharides / (named) polysaccharides;