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Biological Science: 1 Biochemistry > BS0011_SEM1/LEC2/01 > Flashcards

BS0011_SEM1/LEC2/01 Flashcards

1
Q

Describe carbons position in the periodic table and what this means.

A

Group 4
4 outer shell electrons
Shares 4 electrons, so forms 4 covalent bonds

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2
Q

What is the simplest organic molecule?

A

Methane

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3
Q

Which homologous series has the formula CnH2n+2

A

Alkanes

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4
Q

Do Alkanes themselves have much medical use?

A

No
Not themselves of much medical use

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5
Q

Do alkanes occur as part of biomolecules?

A

Yes
Part of biomolecules

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6
Q

Long hydrocarbon chains/ aliphatic groups (like alkanes) occur as part of biomolecules. Give an example of a biomolecule.

A

Lipids

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7
Q

What are the characteristics of alkanes?

A

Unreactive= single bonds between adjacent carbons in hydrocarbon chain
Hydrophobic= non polar so insoluble in water

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8
Q

Give examples of alkanes?

A

Methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane

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9
Q

State properties of alkanes.

A

Not themselves of much medical use
Occur as part of biomolecules
Characteristically unreactive and hydrophobic

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10
Q

Which homologous series has the formula CnH2n+1OH

A

Alcohols

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11
Q

Give examples of alcohols.

A

Methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol

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12
Q

What is an isomer?

A

2 molecules with same chemical/ molecular formula but different arrangement of molecular groups/ atoms.

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13
Q

Which type of isomer is propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol?

A

Structural isomer: same molecular but different structural formula
Positional isomer: same carbon skeleton, same atoms and groups of atoms attached but attached to a different carbon atom

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14
Q

State names of different isomerisms.

A

Structural
Geometric (cis/ trans)
Optical (D/ L)

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15
Q

What are 2 types of bonds that influence carbon compound structure.

A

Single and double

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16
Q

What are the effects of single bonds on carbon compound structure?

A

Carbon atoms in single bond can rotate freely.

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17
Q

What are the effects of double bonds on carbon compound structure?

A

Rigid
Sharing so many electrons, so only so many ways they can move around

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18
Q

Describe 4 properties of double bonds that influence carbon compound structure.

A
  1. Rigid- sharing so many electrons, so only so many ways they can move around; do not allow free rotation, so double bond molecules can either be in the cis or trans form
  2. Under strain- so more reactive than single bonds
  3. Reactions tend to be additions, so cause a change in 3D shape, as double bond broken
  4. Are geometric isomers
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19
Q

What do cis and trans mean?

A

Cis means functional groups are on the same side of the carbon chain and trans means that the functional groups are on opposing sides of the carbon chain.

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20
Q

Which functional group is -OH?

A

Hydroxyl

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21
Q

Where are hydroxyl groups found in? (3)

A

Alcohols
Sugars
Some amino acids (serine, threonine, tyrosine)

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22
Q

Give 3 properties of hydroxyl groups.

A
  1. Form hydrogen bonds but are not ionised at physiological pH
  2. Makes molecule polar, so favour interaction with water = hydrophilic
  3. Can be modified, e.g phosphorylated- an important process in cell signalling
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23
Q

Name a process where phosphorylation takes place.

A

Important process in cell signalling

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24
Q

What are the affects of phosphorylation?

A

Something phosphorylated can start a reaction or be a part of a chain of reactions.

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25
Explain the involvement of hydroxyl groups in the first step of glycolysis.
During glycolysis, hydroxyl groups on glucose allow for phosphorylation Activating the hydroxyl group on carbon 6 Catalysed by enzyme hexokinase, which uses ATP to convert glucose into Glucose-6-phosphate- a process known as glucose phosphorylation. Products= G6P and ADP
26
Describe the importance of the first step of glycolysis.
Glycolysis is process of breaking down glucose to produce energy Keeps glucose concentrations low in the cell, allowing glucose to continue to diffuse in
27
Which functional group is C=O?
Carbonyl
28
What types of compounds are carbonyls in?
aldehydes (end) and ketones (internal)
29
Where are carbonyls found?
Sugars Pyruvate Glyceraldehyde Bases of DNA and RNA (except Adenine)
30
What is meant by ‘not ionised at physiological pH’?
Doesn’t split up in solution
31
State properties of carbonyl groups.
Has a dipole= uneven distribution or sharing of electrons in the double bond, so different ends of the molecule have partial charge- molecule is slightly charged
32
What are the purposes of the carbonyl properties?
Can be a recipient in hydrogen bonds Can react to form -OH group
33
Describe an example of a carbonyl reacting to form an -OH group.
Pyruvate (ketone) can be reduced using hydrogen from a reducing agent Catalysed by lactate dehydrogenase To form a secondary alcohol- lactate Reaction can be reversed to form pyruvate
34
Which functional group is -COOH?
Carboxyl
35
Where are carboxyl groups found?
Amino acids, including in side chains of Glutamate and Aspartate Intermediates of TCA (citric acid) cycle pyruvate and lactate Creatine
36
Describe properties of the carboxyl group.
Can be ionised at physiological pH, so carries a negative charge Tends to make molecules hydrophilic, due to charge and strong capacity to form hydrogen bonds
37
Which functional group can be drawn as a hexagon with a circle in?
Phenyl
38
State other names for phenyl.
Benzene, Aromatic and Aryl ring
39
Where are phenyl groups found?
In side groups of amino acids: phenylalanine and tyrosine Thyroxine hormone Oestrogen
40
State the properties of phenyl groups.
Very stable= delocalisation of electrons Hydrophobic Physically bulky flat ring
41
State the properties of phenyl groups.
Very stable= delocalisation of electrons Hydrophobic Physically bulky flat ring
42
Which functional group is -NH2
Amino
43
Where are amino groups found?
All amino acids, but also in side chains of Lysine and Arginine Bases of DNA and RNA Many other places
44
State 2 properties of the amino group.
Can be ionised at physiological pH by gaining a hydrogen atom to form the NH3+ group Group is highly hydrophilic= charge and hydrogen bonding potential
45
Which functional group is PO3H2?
Phosphate
46
Where is the phosphate group found?
Glucose-6-phosphate Phosphoserine- metabolite that is an ester of phosphoric acid and the amino acid serine or phosphorylated form of amino acid serine ATP, ADP and AMP Backbone of DNA
47
Describe 3 importances of phosphate groups.
Ionise at physiological pH, so are strongly negatively charged Charge affects solubility, ability to cross membranes and interactions with other molecules Phosphorylation activates molecules
48
Which functional group is S-H
sulfhydryl
49
Where are sulfhydryl groups found?
Side group of amino acid cysteine
50
Describe 2 importances of sulfhydryl groups.
A disulfide bridge can be formed between 2 cysteines R^1—S—S—R^2 Important in maintaining the shape of some proteins e.g insulin
51
How is Cystine produced from 2 Cysteines?
2 Cysteines react and are oxidised to Cystine Forming a bond between sulfur atoms in each Cysteine Products: 2H+, Cystine and 2e^-
52
Give 2 examples of compounds with multiple functional groups.
Adrenaline (epinephrine)- methyl, s-amino, 3 hydroxyl’s and phenyl groups Acetyl coenzyme A- thioester, amide, 2 amido’s, hydroxyl, 2 methyl’s, phosphoanhydride, phosphoryl, imidazole and amino groups
53
What are the ‘building blocks’ of proteins?
Amino acids
54
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids
55
What are amino acids?
Monomers of proteins
56
Describe the structure of amino acids.
Each a-carbon (alpha carbon) has an amino group, carboxylic acid group, R group/side chain and a hydrogen atom. Each amino acid has a different R group/side chain
57
State chemical properties of amino acids.
1. Not immutable, since amino acids can be modified after being synthesised- which means proteins can be changed after synthesis 2. Are chiral molecules, except glycine
58
What does it mean for an amino acid to not be immutable?
Is not unchanging or fixed
59
State an example where an amino acid is modified after synthesis.
Serine can be converted to phosphoserine using kinase. Phosphoserine can be converted back to Serine using phosphatase.
60
What is a chiral molecule?
Rotated molecule that cannot be superimposed on its mirror image.
61
Are amino acids chiral?
Amino acids are chiral molecules, so can exist as isomers
62
What is an amino acid L-isomer and D-isomer an example of?
Optical isomers/ stereoisomers
63
Are all amino acids chiral molecules?
All are, except glycine as it has a Hydrogen for its R-group
64
Why is glycine not a chiral molecule?
Has H for its R-group, so can be superimposed
65
Which diagram is best shows a molecules 3D structure?
Space-filling
66
Describe 2 characteristics of lipids.
Can be saturated, (polyunsaturated) or saturated Are hydrophobic, but often bonded to other hydrophilic molecules- resulting in phospholipids that are amphipathic
67
What does polyunsaturated mean?
Several double bonds
68
What makes lipids (fats) saturated or unsaturated?
Saturated- single bonds between adjacent carbons in hydrocarbon chain Unsaturated- double bonds between adjacent carbons in hydrocarbon chain
69
What is a phospholipid?
2 fatty acids, glycerol and a phosphate group
70
Why are phospholipids amphipathic?
One part of molecule is hydrophobic and other is hydrophilic
71
Give examples of phospholipids.
Phosphatidyl inositol Phosphatidyl serine Phosphatidyl choline Phosphatidyl ethanolamine Dihosphatidyl glycerol (cardiolipin)
72
Describe the structure of a phospholipid.
Hydrophilic headgroup Hydrophobic tail
73
How do phospholipids react to the 70% water environment in cells?
Form a lipid bilayer
74
Describe a lipid bilayer.
2 opposing layers of phospholipids parallel to each other Hydrophilic phosphate heads facing outwards and hydrophobic tails inwards
75
Why are lipid bilayers useful?
Can form membranes that control movement in and out
76
What functional group can sugars have?
Carbonyl C=O
77
What are the characteristics of sugars?
Can have carbonyl functional groups C=O Can be chiral Their sugar rings are not phenyl rings Can undergo condensation and hydrolysis reactions
78
Are sugar rings phenyl rings?
No, sugar rings are not phenyl rings
79
Describe the condensation and hydrolysis of sugars.
Condensation- Glycosidic bond forms between 2 sugar molecules by the removal of a water molecule. Hydrolysis- Addition of a water molecule splits the molecule into 2 sugar molecules.
80
Carbon’s ability to form _________ ____________ __________ is key to its _____________. ___________ and _____________ bonds differently ______________ the structure of organic compounds. Organic compounds can show _______________. Organic functional groups have ______________ and _____________ properties. Complex organic molecules carry ______________ ___________________ ___________, defining their ______________. The properties of amino acids, lipids and sugars are dependant upon ____________ _________________.
Multiple covalent bonds… chemistry Single… double…constrain Isomerism Distinct… diverse Multiple functional groups… chemistry Carbon chemistry

Biological Science: 1 Biochemistry (4 decks)

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