Complex molecules Flashcards
Why is carbon a versatile atom?
- It’s abundance
- It’s four valance electrons
What are functional groups?
Specific molecules that are commonly attached to carbon based molecules. Considered as bones of organic molecules
” R “ represents?
The varying functional groups
What are isomers?
Organic molecules that have the same number of atoms but different structures
4 main classes of molecules
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Nucleic Acid
- Proteins
What’s a monomer?
Smallest possible version of the main molecules
What’s a macro molecule?
A complicated combination of 2 or more polymers.
Monomers are bonded through?
Dehydration synthesis
Another word for dehydration synthesis?
Condensation synthesis
What is dehydration synthesis?
H+ and OH- react, they are removed from they’re original position and a bond is formed, water is a bi product
The reverse of dehydration synthesis
Hydrolysis
What happens in hydrolysis?
A water is added to where the polymer bond is, and is broken down into H+ and OH- ions
Another name for carbohydrates?
Saccharides
Molecules in carbohydrates
Carbon
Hydrogen
Oxygen
With hydrogen and oxygen in 2:1 ratio like water
Carbohydrates are mostly associated with??
Food
General formula of carbohydrates?
CH2O
Composition of carbohydrates?
3-7 carbons in a ring shape.
Large groups of saccharides are called?
Polysaccharides
3 Common monosaccharides
Fructose
Glucose
Galactose
Common disaccharides
Sucrose
Maltose
Lactose
Glucose + fructose?
Sucrose
Glucose + galactose
Lactose
Glucose + glucose?
Maltose
What are complex saccharides used for?
Long term energy storage or structural support
Polysaccharides are largely composed of the __ smaller molecules
Same
What does the method of bonding in polysaccharides effect?
The strength
Location
Orientation of the Molecule
Simple and disaccharides will end in __ while polysaccharides will abandon the __ ending
“-ose”
2 types of polysaccharides in plants?
Cellulose
Starch
What is starch used for in plants?
Long term energy storage
Polysaccharides in starch
Amylose
Amylopectin
The bonding in starch is ___ and ___ break down
Weak, easy
Starch react with?
O2
Cellulose and starch are composed of___ glucose molecules
Thousands
Cellulose is used for in plants?
Cell wall structure
Cellulose bonds are?
Strong and difficult to break down
What do animals use for long term energy storage
Glycogen
Glycogen is composed of?
Multiple glucose molecules. 16- 24 glucose units
what elements do lipids contain?
Hydrogen and carbon
How are lipids linked?
By non polar covalent bonds
4 major types of lipids?
Neutral fats and oils
Phospholipids
Waxes
Steroids
3 characteristic of neutral fats
Non polar
Hydrophobic
Lack acidic or basic groups
Animals use neutral fats to??
Long term energy storage
Insulation of the body
Cushioning around the organs
why is a triglyceride called a triglyceride?
cuz it has 3 fatty acid molecules and 1 molecule of glycerol
are fatty acids a functional group?
yes
composition of fatty acids?
carbon and hydrogen chains (16-18 carbons long) + a carboxyl acid group (COOH).
2 types of fatty acids?
saturated
unsaturated
which type of fatty acid has NO double bonds? and how’s hydrogen frequency in the said fatty acid?
saturated fatty acids
contain maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible (saturated with hydrogen)
which type of fatty acid has double bonds? and where are they usually?
unsaturated fatty acids
the bonds occupy the space where otherwise hydrogen would bond
straight chains of fatty acids in?
and what’s advantage of having straight chains?
saturated fatty acids
it allows them to pack tightly together giving them the ability to stay as solids in room temp
bent chains of fatty acids in?
and what’s result of having bent chains?
unsaturated fatty acids
cannot pack as tightly and as a result is liquid in room temp
what are poly unsaturated fats?
unsaturated fatty acids with multiple double bonds in their carbon chain.
what’s a characteristic of polyunsaturated fatty acids?
more bent and even less stable
how are transfats formed?
by hydrogenating unsaturated fatty acids.
why are unsaturated fatty acids hydrogenated into trans fats?
for easier storage
why are trans fats called trans fats?
because they have functional groups that’s are not in the same side. (trans in latin = across)
what’s the type of fat with the “kink” shape? and why?
trans fats
due to the crossed functional groups
why is the “kink” shaped fatty acid molecule thick and rigid?
due to the less membrane fluidity due to the “kink” shape
why are trans fats bad?
the increased membrane rigidity, inhibit cell’s ability to communicate with the surrounding environment ( as well as other cell processes)
the increased intake of trans fats have been linked to? ( diseases)
heart attacks
type 2 diabetes
stokes
composition of phospholipids?
2 fatty acid chains
glycerol
phosphate groups
the charge of the 2 fatty acids in phospholipids and form what region?
neutral, tail region that’s hydrophobic
the charge of the glycerol and phosphate group in fatty acids and they form what region?
polar, head region which is hydrophilic
where can phospholipid be found?
in the semi permeable cell membrane
what are waxes composed of?
one fatty acid + alcohol group
2 characteristics of waxes ?
moderate melting point
more hydrophobic than fats
uses of waxes?
to repel water
to build structure as they are maliable
what are steroids composed of?
four fused rings of carbon and a additional functional group
why are steroids considered as a lipids although they are different from other lipids??
cuz they’re hydrophobic and insoluble in water
how are the four carbon rings of steroids composed?
3 hexagons and a pentagon
what’s the advantage of the unique composition of steroids?
increase membrane fluidity
act as a signalling molecule
what are proteins composed of (monomers)?
amino acids
how many possible amino acids are there?
20
what are the five elements that compose amino acids?
carbon
nitrogen
oxygen
sulphur
hydrogen
what is the alpha carbon atom in amino acids? and how is it bonded?
the central carbon atom in amino acids that’s bonded to:
a hydrogen atom
a carboxyl group
and the “R” group
how do amino acids bond together?
through dehydration synthesis
how does dehydration synthesis work?
the OH group from the carboxyl section of the amino acids and the H group from the amine group bond to produce a water molecule
what does the carbon of the carboxyl group attach to after the water molecule is formed?
the nitrogen of the amine group
the bond linking 2 amino acids?
peptide bond
what are chains of amino acids called?
peptides
what’s an oligo peptide?
a few amino acids
why is it important that the polypeptide chains are joined in the appropriate sequence?
cuz the failure to do so can make improperly functioning proteins and lead to diseases like sickle cell disease or cystic fibrosis
4 structures of protein folding
primary
secondary
tertiary
quaternary
describe the primary structure of protein folding
an amino acid sequence
describe the secondary structure of protein folding
coiling and folding of the poly peptide sequence
describe the tertiary structure of protein folding
overall 3D structure of the polypeptide sequence
describe the quaternary structure of protein folding
proteins with multiple polypeptide chains bound together to form a more complex protein
what are the bonds between amino acids in the primary structure?
peptide bonds
what are the bonds between amino acids in the secondary structure? be specific
hydrogen bonds
occurring between hydrogen in the amine and the oxygen in the carboxyl group
what are the two shapes of proteins folded in the secondary structure?
alpha helix and beta plated
what are the two shapes of proteins folded in the tertiary structure?
globular or fibrous
what are the bonds between amino acids in the tertiary structure?
hydrogen or sulphur bonds ( disulphide bridge)
what do you call different polypeptide chains in a protein in the quaternary structure?
subunits
name 2 proteins with subunits
hemoglobin (4)
collagen (3)
when does the protein folding become undone?
when they are subjected to an environment out of they’re preferred range
what is denaturing?
a protein losing it’s shape due to unfavourable conditions.
what is renaturing and is it always possible?
returning of a protein to it’s original composition after the inhibiting factor is removed and no it’s not always possible
what do u call the process that makes a protein permanently denature?
coagulation
give 5 reasons why proteins may denature
a drastic change in pH
a drastic change in temp
heavy metals
radiation
a drastic change in salt concentration outside the protein
why do proteins denature when we’re cooking food?
cuz we use heat to break the chemical bonds within the food and that includes the bonds within proteins
how are the proteins within cured meat denatured?
by subjecting the meat to acidic substances or salt
can proteins be denatured by extreme cold temperatures?
yes
2 types of nucleic acids
ribs nucleic acid ( RNA )
deoxyribonucleic acid ( DNA)
monomers of nucleic acids?
nucleotides
3 components of nucleic acids?
5 carbon/pentose sugar
phosphate group
nitrogen base
what’s the pentose sugar in RNA and DNA?
ribose
deoxyribose ( de-oxy, no oxygen)
what are the two groups of nitrogen bases and what’s the difference?
purine : 2 rings of carbon
pyrimidine : 1 ring of carbon
name the purines
Guanine and Adenine
( Pur-ag)
name the Pyrimidines
Cytosine
Uracil
Thymine
which nucleic acid type has Thymine and which has Uracil?
DNA has thymine
RNA has uracil
DNA and RNA are used to?
store genetic info
the shape of DNA and RNA ( different answers)
DNA - double helix
RNA - spiral
through what bonds is the DNA held together and where do they occur?
hydrogen bonds between nitrogen bases
what does ATP mean?
alanine tri-phosphate
what is ATP used for?
as an energy source for cells
the composition of ATP?
ribose sugar
adanine base
3 phosphate molecules
when does ATP turn into ADP?
when the the bond between the last 2 phosphate molecules is broken for energy.
