Chapter 5: The structure and Function of Large Biological molecules Flashcards
What are macromolecules?
A giant molecule formed formed by the joining of smaller molecules
What is the reaction that typically is responsible for the creation of macromolecules?
dehydration reactions
What is a polymer?
a long molecule consisting of many similar or identical building blocks
What are the building blocks of polymers?
monomers
What is a dehydration reaction?
A reaction in which two molecules are covalently bonded to each other w/ the loss of water molecules
What is hydrolysis?
responsible for the breakdown of polymers into monomers by adding a water molecule
What are carbohydrates?
include sugars and polymers of sugars
What are the building blocks of carbs?
monosaccharides
What is a disaccharides?
two monosaccharides
What is the most common monosaccharide?
Glucose
What are the chemical groups included in monosaccharides?
Carbonyl group and hydroxyl groups
What is a 3 carbon sugar called?
trioses
What is a 5 carbon sugar called?
pentose
What is a 6 carbon sugar called?
hexoses
What is cellular respiration?
cells extract energy from glucose molecules by breaking them down
What are the bonds in between monosaccharides called?
glycosidic linkage
What are polysaccharides?
multiple monosaccharides
how do plants store polysaccharides?
starch
how do animals store polysaccharides?
glycogen
What is the simplest form of starch?
amylose
Where is cellulose found in plants?
their cell walls
What macromolecule has alpha linkages?
starch
what macromolecule has beta linkages?
cellulose
Humans cannot digest (alpha/beta?) glucose
beta
What is chitin (where is it found)?
structural starch
makes up exoskeletons and found in fungi
What kind of linkages does chitin have?
beta linkages
What are lipids?
large biological that mixes poorly
What are the two parts of a fat molecule?
fatty acids and glycerol
What is a long carbon skeleton with a carboxyl group at the end?
fatty acid
Fats are polar. T or F? Explain
F, C-H bonds are non-polar
What is the linkage between a fatty acid and a glycerol called?
Ester linkage
What is the difference between a fat and a triglyceral?
nothing
What is a saturated fat?
all carbon in tail are connected via single bonds
What state will a saturated fat be in at room temperature?
solid
What are unsaturated fats?
one or more double bond leads to kink
What state will an unsaturated fat be in at room temperature?
liquid
What is a phospholipid?
a glycerol joined to two fatty acids and a phosphate groups `
What is the charge of a phospholipid head and tail?
The head is hydrophilic
The tail is hydrophobic
What are steroids?
lips characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings
What is cholesterol?
steroid that is an essential component of animal cell membranes and a precursor for the synthesis of other biologically important molecules
What are the building blocks of proteins?
amino acids
What its the bond between amino acids?
peptide bonds
What are the 4 components of an amino acid?
Amino acid, carboxyl group, R group, and a asymmetrical carbon
What is an amino groups molecular structure?
NH2
What is a carboxls molecular structure
COOH
What are globular proteins
proteins that are roughly spherical
What are fibrous proteins
proteins that are shaped like long fibers
What does the primary structure of proteins look like?
long chain of amino acids
What does the secondary structure of proteins look like?
regions are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between atoms of the polypeptide backbone
What is an alpha helix?
A delicate coil held together between every 4th amino acid
What is a beta pleated protein?
two or more strands of the proteins are lying side by side and connected by hydrogen bonds
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
3D shape stabilized by interactions between side chains
What is a hydrophobic interaction?
caused by exclusion of non polar substances by water molecules
What is a disulfide bridge?
covalent bonds that reinforce the shape of a protein
Where do disulfide bridges form?
Where cysteine monomers are bond together
What is a proteins structure?
association of two or more polypeptides (some proteins only)
What is denaturization?
if the pH, salt concentration, temperature, or environment is altered the protein will be destroyed
What is a gene?
discrete unit of inheritance
What is a nucleic acid?
polymers made of monomers called nucleotides
What are the three main steps of DNA creating protein?
- Synthesis of mRNA in the nucleus
- Movement of mRNA into the cytoplasm via nuclear pore
- Synthesis of protein using info carried on mRNA
What are polynucleotides?
macromolecules made up of nucleotides
What are nucleotides?
pentose sugar+ nitrogenous base + (1-3) phosphate groups
What kind of sugar makes up a DNA molecule?
deoxyribose
What kind of sugar makes up an RNA molecule?
ribose
What is a genome?
the entire genetic make up of an organism
