Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

What is the General formula of Carbohydrates?

A

(CH2O)n

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2
Q

Name some Small molecules ( roughly 30 Carbon atoms with a molecular weight of 100-1000)

A

Sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids/fats

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3
Q

Examples of Large molecules (macromolecules)

A

Polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids

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4
Q

Name the 2 types of monosaccharide and the difference between them

A
Ketone = ketose (with =O in the middle)
Aldehyde = aldose (with =O on the end)
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5
Q

Describe the structure of glucose

A

6 carbon atoms
D or L configuration ( depends on the C atom- whether its asymmetric or not)
Can exist in long chain or ring structure

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6
Q

What is the Difference between alpha and beta glucose?

A

Alpha- OH groups on opposite sides of the carbon (on the c1 and c4)

Beta- the oh groups on the same side of c1 and c4

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7
Q

Give examples of some disaccharides

A
Sucrose= galactose + fructose
Lactose= galactose + glucose
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8
Q

What happens when a disaccharide breaks apart?

A

Condensation reaction releases water ( breaking of 1-4 glycosidic bond)

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9
Q

Give examples of some polysaccharides

A

Cellulose (beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds)

Starch/ glycogen ( alpha 1-4 glycosidic bonds)

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10
Q

Describe the structure of glycogen

A

Made of aldose
It’s a hexose
It is very compact and branches for 1-6 glycosidic bonds

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11
Q

What is an Oligosaccharide

A

Contain many different monosaccharides

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12
Q

Give an Example of oligosaccharides

A

Blood groups- difference in monosaccharides -> difference in structure -> difference in space and difference in antibodies needed

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13
Q

Describe the structure of an Amino acid

A

Amine group, R group and a carboxylic acid group all around a central Carbon atom

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14
Q

What happens when 2 amino acids bond?

A

Peptide and releases water in a condensation reaction

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15
Q

Name and describe the types of protein structure

A

Primary = covalent bonds forming polymers
Secondary = regular folded form in helixes or sheets
Tertiary structure= 3D structure
Quaternary structure= multiple different secondary structures together

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16
Q

Name some Other functions of amino acids ( not making proteins)

A

They are the bases for which all hormones are made

17
Q

Describe the structure of a Nucleotide

A

Sugar, base and phosphate

18
Q

What holds nucleotides together?

A

Sugar phosphate binding to make chains which turns into helixes

19
Q

How many bonds between opposite bases?

A
G-C = 3 Hydrogen bonds 
T-A = 2 Hydrogen bonds
20
Q

Where is the oxygen lost from in the DEOXYribose?

A

2’ carbon atom

21
Q

AMP- what does it stand for and what does it do?

A

Adenosine monophosphate
cAMP- Second messenger model
AMP (straight chain) - RNA synthesis

22
Q

Meaning of saturated, unsaturated cis and trans as relating to lipids

A
Saturated= no C-C double bonds
Unsaturated= some C-C double bonds
Cis= H atoms same side of carbon chain - its bent
Trans= H atoms opposite side of carbon chain
23
Q

Describe the structure of a triglyceride

A

Glycerol and 3 fatty acids- the bonds between them is an ester bond

24
Q

Describe the structure and function of a Phospholipid

A

Glycerol, 2 fatty acids and a phosphate group

Make up cell membranes ( using a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail)

25
Q

What is the relation between phospholipids and apoptosis?

A

Changes configuration when going into apoptosis to tell the other cells to clean up the mess left by the apoptotic cell

26
Q

What is Cholesterol and what does it do?

A

Actually a steroid - the OH group interacts with the polar lipid heads and the steroic scaffold interacts with the fatty acids
Decreases fluidity of the membrane but increases flexibility (to allow some insoluable substances through)

27
Q

Name some Important structure and function relationships

A

Proteins denature or mutate affects function

Starch and glycogen are major energy sources for humans but we cant digest cellulose

Single oxygen difference makes DNA much more stable than RNA

28
Q

Give some Examples of single molecule diseases

A

Diabetes - no insulin leads to not being able to regulate glucose

Sickle cell - one amino acid change into a globin chain which causes haemoglobin to aggregate into polymers

Cystic fibrosis- absence of a membrane protein that transports chloride leads to altered property of secretions