Building Blocks

Question 1

What are lipids building blocks of?

Answer 1

Membranes

Question 2

What are the major components of membranes?

Answer 2

Phospholipids, sphingolipids, cholesterol

Question 3

What are the major components of membranes made up of?

Answer 3

Basic metabolites; i.e. fatty acids, glycerol, amino acids, and carbohydrates

Question 4

What are proteins the major functional component of?

Answer 4

Any cell or organ

Question 5

Size and permeability of protein

Answer 5

Many shapes and sizes and can be soluble or membrane-bound

Question 6

How many amino acids are proteins comprised of

Answer 6

20 amino acids

Question 7

How are amino acids grouped?

Answer 7

By physicochemical properties

E.g. nonpolar, aliphatic, aromatic, polar uncharged, sulfur-containing, cationic, and anionic

Question 8

How are amino-acids characterized?

Answer 8

By an alpha-carboxyl group and alpha-amnio group and a variable side chain

Question 9

What does titration of an amino acid reveal?

Answer 9

the pK values associated with these function groups

Question 10

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids?

Answer 10

The nucleotides:
- Adenosine
- Guanosine
- Cytidine
- Thymidine 
(These are comprised of a nucleobase linked to the sugar ribose or deoxy-ribose)

Question 11

Carbohydrates are important ….

Answer 11

Cellular building blocks

Question 12

What is the space between cells in tissue filled with?

Answer 12

Proteoglycans

Question 13

What are proteoglycans?

Answer 13

Large proteins containing extended carbohydrates side-chains (glucosaminoglycans)

Question 14

How do glucosaminoglycans work?

Answer 14

They bind water and form a gel-like matrix between cells

Question 15

What are some frequently observed repetitive units of glucosaminoglycans?

Answer 15

• Hyaluronic acid
• Chonfroitin-6-sulfate
• Heparin
• Keratin-sulfate
• Dermatan sulfate

Question 16

What do carbohydrates in these glucosaminoglycans usually have?

Answer 16

Acidic groups
E.g. glucuronic acid or iduronic acid

OR are modified amino sugars (galactosamine and N-acteyl galactosamine)

• This helps to bind water and ions in tissue