BISC 101 up to Midterm #2 Flashcards
What are the three domains of life?
Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya
What are the four main types of macromolecules in the cell?
Lipids, Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids, and Proteins
Is a C-H bond polar covalent or non-polar covalent?
Non-polar covalent
Is a O-H bond polar covalent or non-polar covalent?
Polar covalent
When salt (sodium chloride) dissolves in water, two ions are formed. What are the ions, and what are their charges?
Na+ (sodium), Cl- (Chloride)
What are the names and functions of eukaryotic organelles?
Nucleus - control center, stores genetic information
Ribosomes - site of protein synthesis
Do plant cells have mitochondria?
Yes, plants require oxygen for cellular processes (i.e. when they need energy from cellular respiration, therefore they have mitochondria)
What is the main function of the plasma membrane?
To provide structure and support for the cell; also to selectively allow certain molecules to pass through into the cell
What are the components of the plasma membrane?
The plasma membrane is made up of a phospholipid bilayer, as well as proteins, carbohydrates, and many other things
Amphipathic
Compounds that contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic elements
Hydrophobic
Usually non-polar, not attracted to water
Hydrophilic
Usually polar, attracted to water
Polar
A compound carrying a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other; usually hydrophilic
Non-polar
No charge on the compound; usually hydrophobic
How does the structure of the phospholipid bilayer make it ideal for its function (forming a selectively permeable bilayer in water?)
In water, the hydrophobic tails will face and interact with each other, while the hydrophilic heads will face outwards (towards the solution); more stable - hydrophobic tails don’t interfere with interactions; prevents large, charged/polar molecules from passing through easily (cannot get through hydrophobic tails)
Why does CO2 cross the membrane easily, but Na+ does not?
CO2 is uncharged, while Na+ is
Are cell membranes and phospholipid bilayers the same thing?
No, cell membranes contain carbohydrates, proteins and more, while phospholipid bilayers are just phospholipids
What is meant by membrane “fluidity”?
Membrane is a mosaic of phospholipids and proteins; overall structure is dynamic and fluid
What is the difference between active and passive transport?
Active transport requires energy (usually (but not always) ATP), while passive does not (diffusion is a form of passive)
What is the difference between diffusion and facilitated diffusion?
Facilitated diffusion requires protein carriers, while passive does not
Between DNA and RNA nucleotides, which carbon has a different group attached?
2’ Carbon; OH in RNA, H in DNA
Describe the difference between the 5’ end and the 3’ end of the nucleotide
5’ end = unlinked phosphate
3’ end = unlinked 3’ carbon in sugar
How many rings do pyrimidines have? Which bases are pyrimidines?
One ring; Cytosine (C), Uracil (U), Thymine (T)
How many rings do purines have? Which bases are purines?
Two rings; Adenine (A), Guanine (G)
Antiparallel
Strands run in opposite directions (i.e. on strand runs 5’ –> 3’ while the other runs 3’ –> 5’)
Why can’t a purine-purine or pyrimidine-pyrimidine pair exist?
Too much space with pyrimidine-pyrimidine; too little space with purine-purine
Which base pair is more difficult to pull apart? (A-T or C-G)
C-G because it has 3 H-bonds, while A-T only has 2
Why can’t adenine and cytosine (A-C) or guanine and thymine/uracil (G-T) pair?
Different number of H-bonds, still results in alteration of DNA structure
What are the main structural differences between DNA and RNA?
RNA contains U instead of T; RNA is single stranded; RNA can have up to quaternary structure (DNA has only secondary)
What are the different levels of structure in DNA?
Primary –> Sequence of nucleotides
Secondary –> Two antiparallel strands twist into double helix; stabalized by H-bonding and hydrophobic interactions
What are the different levels of structure in RNA?
Primary –> Sequence of nucleotides
Secondary –> Hairpins (when single strand folds back on itself to form double-helix “stem” and single-stranded “loop”
Tertiary –> Folds that form distinctive 3-D shape
Quaternary –> Associations between RNA molecules
Transcription
The process of copying hereditary information in DNA to RNA
Translation
The process of using the information in nucleic acids (i.e. RNA) to synthesize proteins
What is the difference between genotype and phenotype?
Genotype = the sequence of bases in DNA Phenotype = product of the proteins produced by DNA
What does “reading frame” mean?
The division of RNA or DNA into a sequence of three-nucleotide codons
Does the amino acid table describe DNA or RNA bases?
RNA BASES!!!!
What are some clues that can be used to differentiate between DNA and RNA?
Presence of Thymine/Uracil (T=DNA, U=RNA); 2’ Carbon (H=DNA, OH=RNA)
Are the DNA template strand and the mRNA sequences similar or complimentary?
Complimentary
Are the DNA coding strand and the mRNA sequences similar or complimentary?
Similar (replace T in DNA with U in RNA)
Are the DNA template and the DNA coding strand sequences similar or complimentary?
Complimentary
What are the three main stages of transcription? What happens in each?
Initiation –> RNA polymerase and sigma form a holoenzyme, sigma recognizes and binds to the promoter (e.g. TATA box; promoter=upstream from transcription start site)
Elongation –> RNA polymerase begins synthesizing RNA 5’ to 3’ (moves along DNA 3’ to 5’)
Termination –> transcription stops when RNA polymerase reaches a DNA sequence that functions as a transcription-termination signal
What is the difference between “primary mRNA transcripts” and “mature mRNA”?
Mature mRNA has the introns spliced out (only exons)
What are the main difference between bacterial and eukaryotic transcription?
3 RNA polymerases in eukaryotes (1 in bacteria), complex and variable promoter structure in eukaryotes (often TATA box ~30 bases upstream), many basal transcription factors in eukaryotes (sigma only in bacteria), mRNA processing in eukaryotes
What are the three main steps in mRNA processing? What kind of organisms does this occur in?
Eukaryotes; Enzyme-catalyzed addition of 5’ cap, splicing (intron removal) by spliceosome, and Enzyme-catalyzed addition of 3’ poly(A) tail
What is the difference between a codon and an anticodon?
Codon = 3 base pair sequence on mRNA Anticodon = 3 nucleotides that form base pairs with an mRNA codon
What are the components required for translation to take place?
mRNA, tRNA (with amino acids), ribosome
What are the three main stages of translation? What happens in each?
Initiation –> mRNA binds to the small ribosomal subunit with help from initiation factors, initiator aminoacyl tRNA binds to the start codon, then large ribosomal subunit binds to complete complex
Elongation –> tRNA arrives with amino acid, ribosome forms peptide bonds, elongation factors move the mRNA through the ribosome (5’ to 3’) to allow new tRNA to arrive
Termination –> ribosome reaches stop codon, release factor (protein) free polypeptide from ribosome, ribosome falls off
What are some of the functions of proteins in the cell?
Ezymes (catalyze reactions), defence (antibodies), movement (motor and contractile proteins), signalling, structure, transport (e.g. hemoglobin)
What are the four levels of protein structure? What distinguishes them?
Primary –> Sequence of amino acids
Secondary –> α-helix or β-pleated sheet, formed by hydrogen bonding between portions of the peptide-bonded backbone
Tertiary –> most of the overall shape; result of interactions involving R-groups (H-bonds, hydrophobic interactions, Van der Waals interactions (electrical attractions), covalent bonding (disulphide bonds), ionic bonding)
Quaternary –> Interactions between multiple polypeptides
Why are enzymes important to the cell?
Enzymes bring reactants together in specific orientations and stabilize transition states (lower activation energy –> increase reaction rate of chemical processes required for life)
Substrates
Reactant molecules
Transition state
Intermediate product of a reaction (does not last, often unstable)
Enzymes are often turned off or on. Why is this ability valuable to a cell?
A higher rate of reaction isn’t always required (i.e. insulin production)
What are some functions of carbohydrates in the cell?
Structure - (e.g. cellulose, chitin, peptidoglycan) stiff, strong and durable
Display info - (glycoproteins) identify a cell as part of your body
Energy storage - carbs store and provide chemical energy in cells
What molecule is used as the “universal” energy currency in the cell?
ATP (adenosine triphosphate)
Why is ATP a good choice for the energy currency of the cell? Why isn’t glucose a good choice?
Repulsion between negative charges in phosphates provides high potential energy; glucose provides more energy than the cell can use at once, therefore ATP is more flexible and useful
What is the purpose of cellular respiration?
To produce ATP from a starting material with high potential energy (usually glucose)
What are the inputs of cellular respiration? What are the outputs?
C6H12O6 (glucose) + 6(O2) –> 6(CO2) + 6(H2O) + 36 ATP
What are the 4 processes in cellular respiration?
Glycolysis, pyruvate processing, citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), electron transport chain and chemiosmosis
What is are the inputs of glycolysis? What are the outputs?
Glucose, NAD+, ADP + Pi –> Pyruvate, 2 ATP, 2NADH, H+, H2O
What is are the inputs of pyruvate processing? What are the outputs?
Pyruvates, NAD+ –> Acetyl-CoA, NADH, CO2
What is are the inputs of citric acid cycle? What are the outputs?
Acetyl-CoA, H2O, NAD+, FAD –> ATP, NADH, FADH2, CO2
What is are the inputs of electron transport and chemiosmosis? What are the outputs?
NADH, FADH2, O2 –> ATP (lots), H2O
What is the purpose of photosynthesis?
To produce chemical energy (stored in the bonds of carbohydrates) by converting light energy
What is are the inputs of photosynthesis? What are the outputs?
6(CO2) + (12H2O) + Light energy –> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
What are the two sets of reactions in photosynthesis?
Light-capturing reactions and the Calvin cycle
What are the inputs and outputs in the light-capturing reactions of photosynthesis?
Light energy + H2O –> ATP + NADPH + O2