biomacromolecules Flashcards
what is a biomacromolecule
A large molecule that is used by living organisms in either structural or functional biogeochemical processes
what are the types of biomacromolecules
- carbohydrates
- proteins
- lipids
- nucleic acids
what ability do autotrophs have
are capable of synthesising their own molecules surrounding material they have taken in from their surroundings
what ability do heterotrophs have
have to ingest and break down organic material in order to synthesise the things that they need
what are carbohydrates made up of
- carbon
- hydrogen
- oxygen atoms
what is a monosaccharide
a simple sugar that cannot be broken down into smaller sugar molecules
draw a diagram of a monosaccharide
check your answer
what is a disaccharide
when two sugars are connected
draw a diagram of a disaccharide
check your answer
what is a polysaccharide
when multiple sugars are connected
draw a diagram of a polysaccharide
check your answer
what are a carbohydrates fuel source
glucose
what are the structural components of carbohydrates
- cell wall (cellulose)
- polysaccharide
what forms when carbohydrates and proteins are connected
glycoproteins
what important parts of the cell membrane do glycoproteins make up
- cell to cell binding
- binding molecules
what are lipids also known as
fats
what are lipids made up of
- carbon
- oxygen
- hydrogen
what type of molecules are lipids
they are non-polar molecules making them insoluble in water
what are lipid’s primary functions
- energy stores
- transport of substances in and out of cells
- protections of cells
- as structural components of membranes
what is a triglyceride molecule
a simple lipid formed by linking glycerol with three fatty acids
what makes triglyceride molecules insoluble in water
their length
are lipids hydrophilic or hydrophobic
hydrophobic
where are lipids made
the endoplasmic reticulum
what are proteins made up of
- carbon
- hydrogen
- oxygen
what do the different elements proteins are made up of form
different amino acids
what are short chains of amino acids called
peptides
what are multiple peptides called
polypeptides
what are chains of polypeptides called
proteins
how many amino acids are there to make all the proteins
20
how many amino acids is the human body capable of making
11
what are the other 9 amino acids considered and how are they retained
they are considered essential amino acids and they are retained in our diet
how are proteins considered useful for their tasks
they can differ in sequence but also be folded into shapes
where does protein origami happen
in the Golgi apparatus
how are various diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and mad cow disease caused
due to misfolded proteins
what makes up nucleic acids
DNA and RNA
what are nucleic acids used for
provide instructions to synthesise the proteins that carry out the functions of the cell
what are nucleic acids made up of
- nitrogenous bases
- sugar phosphate backbones
