Biological Molecules Flashcards
What is the General formula of Carbohydrates?
(CH2O)n
Name some Small molecules ( roughly 30 Carbon atoms with a molecular weight of 100-1000)
Sugars, amino acids, nucleotides, lipids/fats
Examples of Large molecules (macromolecules)
Polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids
Name the 2 types of monosaccharide and the difference between them
Ketone = ketose (with =O in the middle) Aldehyde = aldose (with =O on the end)
Describe the structure of glucose
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
What is the Difference between alpha and beta glucose?
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
Give examples of some disaccharides
Sucrose= galactose + fructose Lactose= galactose + glucose
What happens when a disaccharide breaks apart?
Condensation reaction releases water ( breaking of 1-4 glycosidic bond)
Give examples of some polysaccharides
Cellulose (beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds)
Starch/ glycogen ( alpha 1-4 glycosidic bonds)
Describe the structure of glycogen
Made of aldose
It’s a hexose
It is very compact and branches for 1-6 glycosidic bonds
What is an Oligosaccharide
Contain many different monosaccharides
Give an Example of oligosaccharides
Blood groups- difference in monosaccharides -> difference in structure -> difference in space and difference in antibodies needed
Describe the structure of an Amino acid
Amine group, R group and a carboxylic acid group all around a central Carbon atom
What happens when 2 amino acids bond?
Peptide and releases water in a condensation reaction
Name and describe the types of protein structure
Primary = covalent bonds forming polymers
Secondary = regular folded form in helixes or sheets
Tertiary structure= 3D structure
Quaternary structure= multiple different secondary structures together
Name some Other functions of amino acids ( not making proteins)
They are the bases for which all hormones are made
Describe the structure of a Nucleotide
Sugar, base and phosphate
What holds nucleotides together?
Sugar phosphate binding to make chains which turns into helixes
How many bonds between opposite bases?
G-C = 3 Hydrogen bonds T-A = 2 Hydrogen bonds
Where is the oxygen lost from in the DEOXYribose?
2’ carbon atom
AMP- what does it stand for and what does it do?
Adenosine monophosphate
cAMP- Second messenger model
AMP (straight chain) - RNA synthesis
Meaning of saturated, unsaturated cis and trans as relating to lipids
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
Describe the structure of a triglyceride
Glycerol and 3 fatty acids- the bonds between them is an ester bond
Describe the structure and function of a Phospholipid
Glycerol, 2 fatty acids and a phosphate group
Make up cell membranes ( using a hydrophilic head and a hydrophobic tail)
What is the relation between phospholipids and apoptosis?
Changes configuration when going into apoptosis to tell the other cells to clean up the mess left by the apoptotic cell
What is Cholesterol and what does it do?
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)
Name some Important structure and function relationships
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
Give some Examples of single molecule diseases
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
