Chapter 5: Structure and Function of Macromolecules

Question 1

Elements that make carbohydrates? Their ratio?

Answer 1

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen

1:2:1

Question 2

What are monosaccharides? Primary function?

Answer 2

A monomer of carbohydrates; sugars that can’t be made into simpler sugars i.e. pentoses (ribose, deoxyribose) and hexoses (glucose, fructose, galactose). PF= to provide energy

Question 3

Two groups of polymers in carbohydrates?

Answer 3

Disaccharides (maltose, sucrose, lactose) and polysaccharides (starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)

Question 4

PF of starch?

Answer 4

Plant energy storage compound (seeds, special structures)

Question 5

PF of cellulose?

Answer 5

Plant structural component (cell walls)

Question 6

PF of glycogen?

Answer 6

Animal energy storage compound (liver and muscles)

Question 7

What elements make up lipids? H:O ratio?

Answer 7

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; >2:1

Question 8

PF of fats?

Answer 8

Energy storage, insulation, physical protection

Question 9

PF of oils?

Answer 9

Lubricate skin, prevent it from cracking, make skin hydrophobic (same w/ hair)

Question 10

PF of steroids?

Answer 10

Hormonal communication, stabilize membrane structure (cholesterol strengthens cell membranes)

Question 11

PF of phospholipids?

Answer 11

Cell membrane structure

Question 12

Saturated vs unsaturated fatty acids?

Answer 12

Saturated- no double bonds between carbon atoms

Unsaturated- double bonds between carbon atoms

Question 13

Distinguish between the head and the tail of a phospholipid, and explain its importance in membrane structure

Answer 13

The head of a phospholipid is polar while the tails are nonpolar; allows water to pass through the membrane but not stay

Question 14

What elements make up proteins?

Answer 14

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur (in small amounts)

Question 15

What are amino acids? How many are there?

Answer 15

The subunit monomer building blocks of proteins composed of a carboxylic and amino group; 20 kinds

Question 16

How do amino acids differ from one another?

Answer 16

The side groups/ R groups; either nonpolar, polar, or charged/ionic

Question 17

Primary structure

Answer 17

A protein’s unique sequence of amino acids; determined not by the random linking of amino acids, but by inherited genetic information…
3 letters=1 codon=1 amino acid

Question 18

Secondary structure

Answer 18

The coils and folds of a protein; the result of hydrogen bonds between the repeating constituents of the polypeptide backbone

Question 19

Tertiary structure

Answer 19

The overall shape of a polypeptide resulting from interactions between the side chains (R groups) of the various amino acids…
Subunit

Question 20

Quaternary structure

Answer 20

The overall protein structure that results from the aggregation of these polypeptide subunits…
Many subunits

Question 21

What is a protein’s conformation and why is it important?

Answer 21

It’s shape; allows for it to perform a specific function

Question 22

Protein functions?

Answer 22

Support, movement, transport, buffering, metabolic regulation, coordination and regulation, defense, storage

Question 23

What’s denaturation?

Answer 23

Proteins unraveling and losing their shape becoming inactive

Question 24

5 characteristics of an enzyme?

Answer 24

Organic catalysts, proteins, specific for substrate, lower activation energy, necessary for biochemical reactions to occur

Question 25

Monomers of nucleic acids?

Answer 25

Nucleotides

Question 26

What elements make up nucleotides?

Answer 26

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus

Question 27

Function of DNA and RNA? (Nucleic acid functions)

Answer 27

DNA- storage of genetic info (heredity) and control of cell activities via protein synthesis
RNA- Protein synthesis directed by DNA

Question 28

Functions of ATP and NAD+ and FAD?

Answer 28

ATP- vectors for usable chemical energy in all living things
NAD+ and FAD- vectors for electron transfer, energy transformation reactions of cellular respiration

Question 29

Describe the double helix of DNA

Answer 29

There are two sugar-phosphate backbones and nitrogenous bases in between