Biological Molecules Flashcards
Glucose + Fructose =
Sucrose
Glucose + galactose =
Lactose
Glucose + glucose =
Maltose
Difference between alpha and beta glucose
In alpha = OH group below H
What is a condensation reaction?
Joining of two molecules with the formation of chemical bond and elimination of molecule of water
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
Breaking of a chemical bond between two molecules involving use of water molecule
How is a glycosidic bond formed?
Condensation reaction between two monosaccharides
What is starch a mixture of?
Amylose and amylopectin
Describe amylose
Poly (1-4) alpha glucose chain
Coils up into a helix held together by hydrogen bonds
Describe amylopectin
Poly (1-4) alpha glucose chain with (1-6) branches
Multiple ends so can be hydrolysed quickly by amylose enzymes
Describe glycogen
Poly (1-4) alpha glucose chain with (1-6) branches
Purpose of glycogen having multiple ends?
It can be hydrolysed very quickly by enzymes to mobilise glucose for energy
Describe cellulose
Poly (1-4) beta glucose chain
Alternate glucose molecules inverted to form straight chain
How does cellulose give strength to plant cells and young plants?
Hundreds of chains linked by hydrogen bonds to form cellulose microfibrils which are strong and rigid
What is the test for reducing sugars
Add Benedicts reagent
Shake and heat
A precipitate indicates reducing sugar
How can you decipher concentration of reducing sugar from Benedicts test
Concentration increases going down
Green
Yellow
Orange
Brick red
What is the test for non reducing sugars
Test for reducing sugars
Boil with dilute hydrochloric acid to hydrolyse glycosidic bond
Neutralise with sodium hydrogen carbonate
Test for reducing sugars again
How can two organisms have similar % of bases but be very different
- different genes
- different order
- different amino acid coded for
How can % of bases tell you an organism has single stranded DNA
A doesn’t = T
No base pairing
Describe the structure of proteins
Polymer of amino acids
Joined by peptide bond
Formed by condensation
Primary structure is order of amino acids
Secondary structure is folding due to H bonds
Tertiary structure is 3-D folding due to H bonds, disulfide bonds, ionic bonds
Quaternary is more than one polypeptide chain
How are proteins digested in the gut?
Hydrolysis of peptide bonds
Endopeptidases break polypeptides into smaller chains
Exopeptidases remove terminal amino acids
Dipeptidases hydrolyse
How is starch adapted for plant cells
Insoluble - doesn’t affect water potential
Large molecule - cannot leave cell
Helical - compact
What is the test for reducing sugars ?
Heat with Benedicts
Precipitate formed
What is the test for proteins ?
Biuret test (add NaOH and CuSO4) Purple