Biological Molecules Definitions Flashcards
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
A molecule that acts as the energy currency of cells formed from a molecule of ribose, a molecule of adenine and three phosphate groups.
Amino Acid
The monomers containing an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH) and a variable R group that make up proteins.
Benedict’s test
A biochemical test used to test for reducing sugars that produces a different colour based on the amount of reducing sugar present.
Biuret test
A biochemical test that produces a purple solution in the presence of protein
Cellulose
Cellulose: A polysaccharide made of beta glucose monomers that is used as a structural polysaccharide which provides strength to plant cell walls.
Condensation reaction
A type of reaction that joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond involving the elimination of a molecule of water
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
An information storing molecule made up of deoxyribonucleotide monomers joined by phosphodiester bonds to form a double helix.
Dipeptide
Molecules formed by the condensation of two amino acids
Disaccharide
Disaccharide: Molecules formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides.
DNA Helicase
An enzyme that breaks the hydrogen bonds between the two DNA strands in the DNA molecule that is going to be replicated
DNA Polymerase
An enzyme that catalyses the condensation reactions between the new nucleotides in the synthesis of the new DNA strand.
Enzyme
A protein molecule that acts as a biological catalyst and increases the rate of biochemical reactions.
Glycogen
A highly branched polysaccharide made of alpha glucose monomers that is used as the main storage of energy in humans and animals.
Glycosidic bond
A bond between two monosaccharides formed in a condensation reaction
Heat capacity
The amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of a substance by a specific amount.
Hydrolysis
Breaking a chemical bond between two molecules involving the use of a water molecule.
Induced-fit model
A model of enzyme action that describes how enzymes undergo subtle conformational changes to better fit the substrate.
Iodine test
A biochemical test used to test for the presence of starch
Lactose
A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule.
Latent heat
The amount of energy needed for a substance to change state.
Lipid emulsion test
A biochemical test that produces a cloudy emulsion when performed on lipids.
Maltose
A disaccharide formed by condensation of two glucose molecules.
Metabolite
A molecule formed or used in metabolic reactions
Monomers
The smaller units from which larger molecules are made
Monosaccharide
The individual sugar monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made.
Phospholipid
A type of lipid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol, two molecules of fatty acid and a phosphate group.
Polymers
Molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together
Polypeptide
Molecules formed by the condensation of many amino acids
Polysaccharide
Molecules formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides
Primary structure
The individual sequence of amino acids in a protein
Quaternary structure
A structure only applicable to proteins with multiple polypeptide chains that describes the interactions of the different chains
Ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A relatively short molecule made up of ribonucleotide monomers joined by phosphodiester bonds.
Secondary structure
The local interactions of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain
Semi conservative replication
The production of two daughter DNA molecules from one DNA molecule which both contain one original DNA strand and one newly synthesised strand.
Solvent
A substance which other solutes are dissolved in
Starch
A polysaccharide made of alpha glucose monomers that is used as the main storage of energy in plants
Sucrose
A disaccharide formed by condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecule.
Tertiary structure
The way that the whole protein folds to make a three dimensional
structure.
Triglyceride
A type of lipid formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid
