Chapter 5: The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules Flashcards
A coiled region constituting one form of the secondary structure of proteins, arising from specific patter of hydrogen bonding between atoms of the polypeptide backbone
Alpha (α) Helix
An organic molecule possessing both a carboxyl group and an amino acid group. Amino acids serve as the monomers of polypeptides.
Amino Acid
Referring to the arrangement of the sugar-phosphate backbones in a DNA double helix
Antiparallel
One form the secondary structure of proteins in which the polypeptide chain folds back and forth. 2 regions of the chain lie parallel to each other and are held together by hydrogen bonds between atoms of the polypeptide backbone
Beta (β) Pleated Sheet
A sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimers (disaccharides) or polymer (polysaacharides)
Carbohydrate
A chemical agent that selectively increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction
Catalyst
A structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by beta glycosidic linkages
Cellulose
A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids
Cholesterol
A chemical reaction where two molecules become covalently bonded to each other with the removal of a water molecule
Dehydration Reaction
In proteins, a process in which a protein loses its native shape due to disruption of weak chemical bonds and interactions, thereby becoming biologically inactive. In DNA, the separation of the two strands of the double helix. Denaturation occurs under extreme conditions of pH, salt concentration, or temperature
Denaturation
A nucleic acid molecule, usually a double-stranded helix, in which each polynucleotide strand consists of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine; capable of being replicated and determining the inherited structure of a cell’s protein
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
The sugar component of DNA nucleotides, having one fewer hydroxyl group than ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides
Deoxyribose
A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage formed by a dehydration reaction
Disaccharide
Where two cysteine monomers, which have sulfhydryl groups on their side chains, are brought together by the folding of the protein
Disulfide Bridge
Form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent antiparallel polynucleotide strands wound around an imaginary axis into a spiral shape
Double Helix
A macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases the reaction without being consumed by the reaction. Most enzymes are proteins
Enzyme
A lipid consisting of 3 fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule, also called a triacylglycerol or triglyceride
Fat
Gene
A carboxylic acid with a long carbon chain.
Fatty Acid
An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch
Glycogen
A covalent bond formed between 2 monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction
Glycosidic Linkage
A chemical reaction that breaks bonds between 2 molecules by the addition of water; breaking down bond
Hydrolysis
A type of weak chemical interaction caused when molecules that do not mix with water
Hydrophobic Interaction
Any of a group of large biological molecules, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, that mix poorly with water
Lipid
A giant molecule formed by the joining of a smaller molecules.
- Polysaccharides
- Proteins
- Nucleic Acids
Macromolecule
Simplest carbohydrate, active alone or serving as a monomer for disaccharides and polysaccharides. Simple sugar: CH2O
Monosaccharide
A polymer (polynucleotide) consisting of many nucleotide monomers; serves as a blueprint for proteins and, through the actions of proteins, for all cellular activities; DNA and RNA.
Nucleic Acid
The building block of a nucleic acid, consisting of a 5 carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and one to three phosphate groups
Nucleotide
The covalent bond between the carboxyl group on one amino acid and the amino acid group on another, formed by a dehydration reaction
Peptide Bond
A lipid made up of glycerol joined to two fatty acids and a phosphate group. Non-polar hydrophobic tails and polar hydrophilic head. Forms bilayers that function as a biological membranes.
Phospholipid
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together by a covalent bond
Polymer
A polymer consisting of many nucleotide monomers in a chain. The nucleotide can be those of DNA and RNA
Polynucleotide
A polymer of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds
Polypeptide
A polymer of many monosaccharides, formed by dehydration reaction
Polysaccharide
The level of protein structure referring to the specific linear sequence of amino acids
Primary Structure
A biologically functional molecule consisting of one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into a specific 3D structure
Protein
One of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a 6 membered ring fused to a 5-membered ring. (A, G)
Purine
One of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a 6 membered ring (C, T + U)
Pyrimidine
When a protein consists of two or more polypeptide chains
Quaternary structure
A type of nucleic acid consisting of polynucleotide made up of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil; usually single stranded; functions in protein synthesis, in gene regulation as the genome of some viruses
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
The sugar component of RNA
Ribose
A fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that are attached to the carbon skeleton
Saturated Fatty Acid
Regions of repetitive coiling or folding of the polypeptide backbone of a protein due to hydrogen bonding between constituents of the backbone (not the side chains)
Secondary Structure
A recessively inherited human blood disease in which a single nucleotide charge in the a-globin gene causes hemoglobin to aggregate, changing red blood cell shape and causing multiple symptoms in affected individuals
Sickle‐Cell Disease
A storage polysaccharide in plants, consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined by glycosidic linkage. Stored energy
Starch
A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of 4 fused rings with various chemical groups attached
Steroid
The overall shape of protein molecule due to interactions of amino acid side chains, including hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bridges
Tertiary Structure
Unsaturated fat, formed artificially during hydrogenation of oils, containing one or more trans double bonds
Trans Fat
A lipid consisting of 3 fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule; a fat or triglyceride
Triacylglycerol
A fatty acid that has one or more double bonds between carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. This bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton
Unsaturated Fatty Acid
