Ch.3 Molecules of Cells Flashcards
Carbohydrates
CH2O carbon water consisting of sugar molecules
Function: Quick Energy
Monomer: monosaccharides
What are some monomers of carbohydrates?
Glucose, fructose, galactose
All have C6H12O6
Organic compounds
Important for life. A chemical compound containing carbon that is synthesized by cells. Carbon atoms will combine with H, O, N, and P. These carbons will allow for structure as it has 4 electrons to make 4 covalent bonds.
- macromolecule, polymer
Hydrocarbons
Chemical compound composed of hydrogen and carbon. Carbons can be in straight chains, branched, and ring like.
Isomers
Have the same molecular formula but different structure so different properties
Functional Groups
Groups of atoms that participate in chemical reactions. Determines the unique properties.
- all polar because oxygen/nitrogen has strong pull
- polar so therefore hydrophilic (needed for water based life)
What are the 4 types of functional group?
1) Hydroxyl
2) Carbonyl
3) Carboxyl
4) Amino
What comprises a hydroxyl group?
Hydrogen and oxygen atom (alcohol)
What comprises a carbonyl group?
Carbon and oxygen double bonded
- aldehyde at the end
- ketone in the middle
What comprises a carboxyl group?
Carbon double bonded to oxygen and a hydroxyl group
- carboxylic acid
What comprises an amino group?
Nitrogen with 2 hydrogen atoms
- amines (tendency to remoce Hydrogen atoms, a base)
Macromolecules
Organic molecules that are large/complex with hundreds or thousands of atoms covalently bonded.
1) Carbohydrates
2) Lipids
3) Proteins
4) Nucleic Acids
Polymers
Large compounds constructed by covalently bonding many small simple building blocks into long chains
Monomers
Single building blocks of polymers. Key to diversity due to variation in sequence and essentially universal.
What is life’s simple molecular logic?
Small molecules common to all organisms arranged into macromolecules connected together and vary from species to species/individual to individual
Dehydration Synthesis
Putting monomers together by removing water. Condensation reaction.
Hydrolysis
Breaking apart by addition of water.
What are 3 examples of disaccharides?
1) Sucrose (glucose and fructose)
2) Maltose (2 glucose)
3) Lactose
C12H22O11 (water removed)
How are monosaccharides connected?
Dehydrated synthesis
Polysaccharides
Polymers with many hundreds/thousands of monosaccharides
1) Starch
2) Glycogen
3) Cellulose
Starch
Storage molecule for plant tissue; glucose molecules with helical strands
Glycogen
Storage molecule for animals. Similar to starch but more branched. Stored in liver and muscles to convert glucose.
Cellulose
Most complex carbohydrate and most abundant. Plant fiber used for support and for cell walls. Unbranched rod. Cannot be digested by humans but it will cleanse the system.
Hydrophilic
Water loving and soluble
Monosaccharides
smallest unit of sugar molecules and the building block for complex polysaccharides
Disaccharide
Sugar molecules consisting of two monosaccharides linked by dehydration synthesis
Lipids
CHO
An organic molecule consisting mainly of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by non polar covalent bonds and therefore mostly hydrophobic (no hydrolysis)
Function: storage and insulation
Monomer: fatty acids and glycerol
Fat
A large lipid made from a glycerol and 3 fatty acids. Acts as energy storage and insulation.
Triglyceride
A fat which contains a molecule of glycerol linked to three molecules of fatty acids.
Unsaturated fats
Hydrocarbon chains that lack the maximum number of hydrogen atoms and have one or more double covalent bonds.
Saturated fats
Hydrocarbon chains that contain the maximum number of hydrogen and has no double covalent bonds
Phospholipid
Major component of cell membrane, structurally similar to fat but with a phosphorus and 2 fatty acids
- protects body surfaces
- regulates cellular and bodily functions
Waxes
1 fatty acid linked to glycerol
- waterproof coating (hydrophobic)
Steroids
Carbon skeleton bend to form 4 rings
Fatty Acid
Carboxyl group with hydrocarbon chain of 15 carbons
Glycerol
Alcohol with 3 carbons each with own hydroxyl group
Protein
CHON (S)
A biological macromolecule made of 1+ polypeptides
Monomer: amino acids
Function: building material (corresponds with structure)
What are the 7 classes of proteins?
1) Structural
2) Contractile
3) Storage
4) Defensive
5) Transport
6) Signal
7) Enzymes
Structural proteins are for…
Building material and what makes living things.
Contractile proteins are for…
Fibers that contract and relax for movement (muscles)
Storage proteins for…
Stores proteins for later use
Defensive proteins for…
Fights infections
Transport proteins for…
Picks up and delivers substances
- hemoglobin
Signal proteins for…
Coordinate and communicate cell reactions
Enzyme proteins for…
Catalyzes chemical reactions and effective in small quantities.
Why are proteins the most diverse in structure and function?
Arrangement of amino acids.
Amino Acids
Organic molecule containing a carboxyl group and an amino group
- linked by dehydration synthesis
Polypeptide
Long chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds.
Denaturation
Changing of protein structure to cause it to lose function
- heat, pH, salt concentration
4 types of protein structures?
1) Primary structure
2) Secondary Structure
3) Tertiary Structure
4) Quaternary Structure
Primary Structure
Amino acid sequence
Secondary Structure
Coiling and folding of polypeptide chains due to hydrogen bonding
Tertiary Structure
Overall shape of the polypeptide in 3-D (globular or fibular)
Quaternary Structure
Relationship among multiple polypeptides of a protein
Alpha Helix
Spiral shape resulting from the coiling of a polypeptide in a protein’s secondary structure
Pleated Sheet
Folded arrangement of a polypeptide
Nucleic Acids
CHONP
Master molecule of life. The chemical link between generations that transfers genetic material. Primary control over protein synthesis that contains code for amino acid sequence and builds protein molecules.
Monomer: nucleotides
DNA
Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid
- genetic material that organisms inherit from parents
- double stranded helix molecule of deoxyribose sugar and bases
- in nucleus
How can one molecule (DNA) dominate the scheme of life?
Structure
What are the 2 types of nucleic acids?
1) DNA
2) RNA
Nucleotides
Building block of nucleic acids
- Phosphate group
- 5 carbon sugar
- Nitrogen base
What are the 5 types of nitrogen bases?
1) Adenine
2) Guanine
3) Cytosine
4) Thymine (DNA) and Uracil (RNA)
Genes
A discrete unit of hereditary info consisting of specific nucleotide sequence in DNA -> functions
- controls life of cell/organism
RNA
Ribose Nucleic Acid
- type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers
- single stranded in the nucleus and cytoplasm
- 3 kinds (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA)
Who discovered the code of life? Double Helix?
J. Watson and F. Crick. With the help of M. Wilkens and R. Franklin
