Biomolecules Flashcards
What is the role of calcium as an inorganic ion?
Enzyme activation; blood clotting; muscle contraction
What is the role of magnesium as an inorganic ion in plants?
Located in chlorophyll, contributes to plants’ green colour
What is the importance of potassium as an inorganic ion?
Transmission of nerve impulses (repolarisation)
What is the role of sodium as an inorganic ion?
Transmission of nerve impulses; common ion helping to correct water potential (see cystic fibrosis)
What is the importance of chloride ions in cells?
Helping to maintain correct water potential (see cystic fibrosis); needed to form hydrochloric acid in gastric juice.
What is the importance of iodide ions in animal cells?
Trace used to make thyroxine hormone
What is the importance of iron ions in animal cells?
Component of haemoglobin, other enzymes and coenzymes
What is the importance of nitrate in plant cells?
Used to make amino acids and therefore proteins
What is the importance of phosphate molecules in cells?
Major component in nucleic acids- DNA and RNA, used in ATP and phospholipids
What is the role of antioxidants?
Providing hydrogen atoms that stabilize reactive radicals [which would cause cellular damage] by pairing with its unpaired electron
What is starch?
alpha glucose
Made from amylose and amylopectin…
What is cellulose?
A straight chained non-starch polysaccharide
What is the induced fit theory for enzymes?
The substrate enters the enzyme’s active site; the enzyme molecule changes shape slightly to accomodate for it
What is amylose an example of?
Polysaccharide
What is the role of starch?
To store energy in plants
