Biomolecules

Question 1

Main functions of Carbohydrates

Answer 1

Primary function - short-term energy generation
Secondary function - intermediate-term energy storage
Tertiary function - structural components in cells

Question 2

What 3 carbohydrates form when monosaccharides combine

Answer 2

Disaccharides
Oligosaccharides
Polysaccharides

Question 3

Why do many common sugars exist in the cyclic form?

Answer 3

Ring form more energetically stable

Aldehyde or ketone can react with alcohol

Question 4

What are Complex Oligosaccharides involved in

Answer 4

Cellular recognition processes
Bacterial and viral infections
Cancer metastasis
Intercellular recognition processes

Question 5

4 key types of lipids

Answer 5

Fats
Steroids
Phospholipids
Eicosanoids

Question 6

Main functions of lipids

Answer 6

Energy storage
Heat or insulation
Structural components of cell membranes
Communication

Question 7

What are the two different subunits of lipids

Answer 7

Ketoacyl lipids

Isoprenoids

Question 8

What part of the lipid is hydrophillic and non-polar

Answer 8

Carboxyl head group

Question 9

Describe saturated fats

Answer 9

Single bonds between carbons
Linear appearance
Solid at room temp

Question 10

Describe unsaturated fats

Answer 10

One or more C=C bonds
C=C double bonds gives distinct bend
reduces Tm-liquid at room temp

Question 11

Describe Triacylglycerols

Answer 11

Glycerol head group attached to 3 fatty acid chains
Stored as cytoplasmic ‘lipid droplets’
Long term storage for energy and insulation
High in energy (5 kcal/gram higher than carbohydrates)

Question 12

What are phosphoglycerates composed off

Answer 12

Glycerol backbone attached to 2 fatty acid chains and 1 phosphorylated alcohol

Question 13

What are eicosenoids derived from

Answer 13

Arachidonic acid

Question 14

What are the four families of Eicosenoids

Answer 14

Prostaglandins
Prostacyclins
Thromboxanes
Leukotrienes

Question 15

Describe Steroids

Answer 15

Built around a 4-ringed hydrocarbon skeleton
Cholesterol is the base for all steroid hormones
Also the base for bile acids

Question 16

Name 5 steroid hormones

Answer 16

Glucocortecoids
Mineralocortecoids
Androgens
Eostrogens
Progestogens

Question 17

Name 3 sterols

Answer 17

Cholesterol
Ergosterol
Phytosterols

Question 18

What is cholesterol

Answer 18

Present in mammalian cell membranes

Precursor of steroid hormones and bile acids

Question 19

Where is Ergosterol present

Answer 19

Cell membrane of fungi

Question 20

What percentage of the dry weight of most cells do proteins account for

Answer 20

50%

Question 21

What does the basic structure of amino acid consist of

Answer 21

Central carbon atom
Amino group
Carboxylic acid group
Hydrogen atom
Side-chain

Question 22

Explain linking of amino acids

Answer 22

Added on at a time
Bond formed carboxyl to amino end
Intrinsic directionality
Condensation reaction forming a peptide bond
Repeated N-C-C backbone
Side chains protrude from backbone

Question 23

Monomeric vs multimeric proteins

Answer 23

Monomeric - one polypeptide

Multimeric - more than one polypeptide

Question 24

What is a nucleoside

Answer 24

Base linked to the sugar

Question 25

What are Sphingolipids

Answer 25

Sphingomyelin backbone instead of glycerol
Contains unsaturated hydrocarbon chain
Complex sphingolipids are produced by the addition of head groups at the C1 hydroxyl position

Question 26

What do vitamins do

Answer 26

Link and regulate metabolic reactions that release energy within food
Work alongside each other in groups
Enhance or impair another vitamin/minerals absorption and functioning