Chemical components of cells

Question 1

What are the types of bonds found in important biomolecules?

Answer 1

Covalent bonds:
-Polar
-Non-polar
-Characterized by bond angles and lengths
-Can involve more than one electron pair (double bonds are shorter and stronger)

Noncovalent bonds:
-Ionic bonds
-Hydrogen bonds
-Hydrophobic interactions
-van der Waals forces

Question 2

Which electrons determine how atoms interact?

Answer 2

The outermost electrons (valence electrons)
-form covalent chemical bonds between atoms by sharing valence electrons

Question 3

Describe polarity and electronegativity

Answer 3

-Polarity of a covalent bond depends on the relative electronegativities of the participating atoms
-Electronegativity: tendency to attract electrons

Question 4

What is bond strength and thermal energy

Answer 4

Question 5

Describe ionic bonds/electrostatic interactions

Answer 5

-Weak attraction between oppositely charged (or opposite polarity) groups in large biomolecules are important
-Ionic bonds may be disrupted in water but deep within core of protein may still be intact
-electrostatic interactions can be attractions OR repulsions

Question 6

Describe hydrogen bonds

Answer 6

amino acids in a polypeptide chain can be H bonded together in a folded protein

Question 7

Describe hydrophobic interactions

Answer 7

Question 8

Describe van der Waals forces

Answer 8

Question 9

Describe the properties of water

Answer 9

Question 10

What are acids, bases and buffers

Answer 10

Question 11

Describe the nature of biological molecules

Answer 11

Question 12

What are the functional groups and their purpose?

Answer 12

Question 13

What are macromolecules

Answer 13

Question 14

What are the 4 tyeps of biological molecules?

Answer 14

Question 15

What are carbohydrates and how are they classified?

Answer 15

Question 16

What is the structure of sugars?

Answer 16

Question 17

How are sugars linked together?

Answer 17

Question 18

What are the nutritional polysaccharides?

Answer 18

Question 19

What are the structural polysaccharides?

Answer 19

Question 20

What are lipids?

Answer 20

Question 21

What are fats and fatty acids?

Answer 21

Fats:
-Ampipathic meaning tails (fatty acid) are hydrophobic and head (glycerol) are hydrophilic

Fatty acids:
-Differ in length (14-20 Cs) and presence of C=C
-Different properties when incorporated into cell membranes
-Saturated: No C=C, can be packed tightly and solid at room temp
-Unsaturated: Have C=C, cannot be packed tightly and liquid at room temp

Question 22

What are steroids?

Answer 22

Question 23

What are phospholipids?

Answer 23

Question 24

What are proteins?

Answer 24

Question 25

Describe the properties of side chains in proteins

Answer 25

Question 26

What are the four levels of organization in protein structure

Answer 26

Question 27

Describe protein primary structure

Answer 27

Question 28

How do amino acid side chains influence protein folding?

Answer 28

Question 29

What is sickle cell anemia?

Answer 29

-Single amino acid change within hemoglobin molecule causing a crescent or sickle-shaped red blood cell -Glutamic acid to valine

Question 30

Describe protein secondary structure

Answer 30

Question 31

Describe protein tertiary structure

Answer 31

Domains: -structural unit of tertiary structure -Hydrophobic cores connected by loop regions -Fold independently -Eukaryotic proteins > or = 2 domains -often have specific function

Question 32

Describe quaternary structure

Answer 32

Question 33

What are molecular chaperones

Answer 33

Question 34

Explain protein misfolding and alzheimers

Answer 34

Question 35

What are nucleic acids

Answer 35

Question 36

Differ RNA and DNA

Answer 36

Question 37

What are the nitrogenous bases

Answer 37

Question 38

Differ DNA and RNA structure

Answer 38

Question 39

Explain macromolecular assembly

Answer 39