Biological Molecules Flashcards
What does the term organic mean?
It contains carbon
What are the 3 common elements found in all biological compound?
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
What is the general difference between monomers and polymers?
Monomers only have one molecule and polymers have many molecules
2 examples of monosaccharide
Glucose
Fructose
What is the function of protein? (2)
Helps growth and repairs tissue
What is the optimum?
The best temperature for the enzyme to work at
What is the optimum temperature?
37C
What are biological molecules?
Organic compounds that occur naturally.
Most of the molecules are found in three groups : Carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.
They all contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Protein also contains nitrogen.
What are Carbohydrates made of?
Made of sub-units called sugar.
Group of sugar molecules link together to make larger molecules and long chain polymers.
Polymer = Carbohydrate
Monomer = glucose.
E.g. of carbohydrate polymers are starch and glycogen, which are both made of simple sugars.
Sugars
Two simple sugars = disaccharide
E.g glucose + fructose = sucrose
Sugar provides us with energy and is also use to build cell structures.
Monosaccharide
The building blocks.
Can function as an energy source during cellular respiration - mainly known as simple sugars.
Disaccharide
Two monosaccharides joined together (e.g glucose + fructose = sucrose)
Polysaccharide
Long chains of monosaccharides joined together (e.g starch)
Carbohydrates
They are sugar and starches.
They have Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, and Polysaccharides.
Starches can be found in potatoes, rice, wheat, corn, bananas, peas, beans, lentils, and other tubers, seeds, and fruits of plants.
Important Polysaccharides are cellulose and chitin.
Cellulose makes up the cell wall of plants.
Chitin provides structure to fungi and the exoskeleton of arthropods.
Amino acid
The building blocks of proteins. There are 20 of them that combine to form polypeptides(proteins).
Structure = at the center of the molecule is the alpha carbon that is connected to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom and the R group (the side chain). The different amino acids have different side chain, but are otherwise identical.
Protein
Proteins are complex, specialized molecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes sulphuric.
The building blocks of proteins are amino acids. There are 20 different amino acids that combine to form polypeptides (proteins).
Functions:
Structural proteins (e.g. collagen or elastin). Regulatory proteins (e.g. enzymes control cell processes). The immune system (antibodies), oxygen transport (hemoglobin), movement (muscles) etc.
Lipids
Consist of glycerol and fatty acids (long ‘tails’ of carbon and hydrogen which contributes the non-polar behavior of fats) which can be saturated.
Functions:
Long-term energy storage
Important component of the cell membrane.
Glucose
Benedict’s solution (blue)
In heat, the solution will turn green/brown (precipitate) or Brick-red.
Starch
Iodine solution
Will change from yellow to blue/black.
Protein
Biuret reagent
If solution goes from blue to purple, protein is present.
Fat
Paper
Will turn translucent
Create a white emulsion when mixed with ethanol and suspended in water.
Enzymes
Enzymes catalyze metabolic reaction (chemical reactions taking place inside the cell). They are biological catalysts ( speeds up chemical reaction without being used up).
Each enzyme catalysts a different reaction.
Enzymes work with specific substrates, which create the different reactions.
How enzymes work
Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction making it faster (time = less).
Substrates must collide while they are constantly moving (with enzymes).
This reaction must have sufficient collision energy (and orientation).
There must be enough substrate concentration for a reaction to occur.
Catabolic enzymes break down substances into products and release energy.
Anabolic enzymes consume energy and build more complex molecules from smaller ones.
(Respiration + digestion vs. Photosynthesis and muscle growth).
Collision theory
Collisions must have sufficient energy, in the right orientation in order for a reaction to occur.
Changes by pH
Changing the pH will affect the charges on the amino acid molecules. Amino acids that attracted each other may no longer. The shape of the enzyme and its active site will change.
Carbohydrase
E.g. Amylase Secretion site: mouth and pancreas. Action site: mouth and small int. ( pH 8) Substrate: starch Products: maltose
E.g. Maltese Secretion site: Small int. Action site: Small int. (pH 7) Substrate: Maltose Products: glucose
Protease
E.g. Pepsin Secretion site: stomach wall Action site: stomach (pH 3) Substrate: protein Products: polypeptides
E.g. Peptidase Secretion site: small int. and pancreas Action site: small int. (pH 7) Substrate: polypeptide Products: amino acids
Lipase
E.g. Lipase Secretion site: pancreas Action site: small int. (pH 7) Substrate: fats (lipids) Products: Fatty acids and glycerol
