Exam 1 Flashcards
Comparative Experiment
use data from the outside world, would not be possible as a controlled experiment
Independent Variable
the variable manipulated
Dependent Variable
the variable being measure, changes in response to IV
Negative control
no phenomenon is expected
Positive Control
a group where the phenomenon is expected
Null Hypothesis
there is no relationship between the two variables. Any difference is the result of random chance
Hypothesis
A hypothesis can not be proven. If it is supported by evidence, we reject the null hypothesis. If it is not supported by evidence, we fail to disprove the null hypothesis
Structure of Water
Water is a bent molecule with electrons unequally shared (different electronegativity). Oxygen is more electronegative than the hydrogens, so it pulls on the shared electrons more. Resulting in the oxygen having a slight negative charge and hydrogen having a slight positive charge.
Hydrogen Bonding
Hydrogen bonds explain the high melting and boiling points of water.Water can form hydrogen bonds with up to 4 other water molecules
Polarity of Water
Water pulls apart ionic compounds (salts) due to its polarity
Hydrophobic Effect
The dipole nature of water creates the hydrophobic effect (entropically driven exclusion from water).
Hydrophobic effect: tendency for hydrophobic molecules to clump together in polar solutions.
When nonpolar molecules are apart, it takes more energy than if all of the molecules were together. Since it requires less energy when the molecules are clumped, they proceed to the state that is thermodynamically favorable
Water Uses
Water is an important part of most biomolecules and can be crucial for the structure and function of an active site of an enzyme.
Water is often used to make and break covalent bonds
Hydrolysis: Water is used to break a bond
Condensation: water is produced as a result of a bond forming
weak interactions hold together complex biological molecules
covalent bonds
Hydrogen bonds: sharing of H atom (between polar molecules)
ionic bonds: attraction of opposite charges, charges are full
hydrophobic interactions: interaction of nonpolar substances in the presence of polar substances
van der Waals forces: interaction of electrons of non polar substances. Electrons are constantly moving, causing negative and positive regions (unequal distribution of electrons)
Energy
Endergonic: requires energy to occur (activation energy), Ereactants< Eproducts
Exergonic: releases energy, Ereactants> Eproducts
Free energy (ΔG) = [Energy]products - [Energy]reactants
energy in living systems is found in many forms (covalent bonds, electron carriers, proton
gradients, ATP)
ATP is the energetically rich energetic currency used by many reactions within a cell
the hydrolysis of ATP (a favorable reaction) is coupled with unfavorable reactions to push them forward
Structure of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Fatty Acids, and Triglycerol
Carbohydrates: made of carbon and hydrogens. Cn(H2O)n. Chain of carbons connected by single bonds, if there are more than 5 carbons carbon rings form.
Lipids: nonpolar molecules
Fatty acids: long nonpolar hydrocarbon chain with a terminal polar carboxyl functional group
Triacylglycerol: Simple lipid. 1 glycerol group and 3 fatty acid tails (hydrocarbon+acid on tp)
Carboydrates VS Lipids
Energetic differences between carbohydrates and lipids
Lipids are more efficient at storing energy than carbohydrates. More energy per carbon (less oxidized). They take up less space per carbon (water doesn’t bind to lipids)
Saturated versus unsaturated fatty acids
Saturated fatty acids: all carbon bonds are single bonds. Packs efficiently, solid at room temperature
Unsaturated fatty acids: some carbons have double bonds, causing kinks in the chain. Liquid at room temperature, can not pack efficiently. Causes membranes to be more fluid
Amino Acids: why these 20?
Because amino acids were present before life existed on earth, so life chose the 20 simplest and most common amino acids to synthesize proteins with. Only 20 amino acids are used because they have enough diversity.
Amino Acids: why one isoform? Why L?
Amino acids are almost exclusively the L isoform because their structures have to be consistent so that the proteins made folds the correct way.
What are the unique properties of each?
Nonpolar, uncharged: hydrophobic, tend to cluster together
Polar, uncharged: hydrophilic, can form hydrogen bonds
Aromatic group: nonpolar, can participate in hydrophobic interactions, made of carbon rings
Positively charged: hydrophilic
Negatively charged: hydrophilic
more carbon = more phobic
Protein Folding
Peptides are polymerized amino acids, usually synthesized at the ribosome.
All the information necessary to properly fold a protein is contained in primary sequence
If denature agents are removed, structure and function are restored
Primary Structure
The linear sequence of amino acids in a peptide
Secondary structure
Interactions between nearby amino acids give rise to regular repeating structures called secondary structure.
Secondary structure is maintained by hydrogen bonding.
α-helix by intramolecular H-bonds. For spiral regions. Full revolution every 3.6 residues, hydrogen every 4 residues.
β-sheet by intermolecular H-bonds. Form pleated sheets
Tertiary structure
the 3D structure of a folded peptide
Non-covalent forces (H bonds, hydrophobic effect, ionic interactions, Van der Waals) and disulfide bonds stabilize both Tertiary and Quaternary structures.
Quaternary structure
the 3D structure of a protein composed of more than one polypeptide.
Non-covalent forces (H bonds, hydrophobic effect, ionic interactions, Van der Waals) and disulfide bonds stabilize both Tertiary and Quaternary structures.
Antifreeze Proteins
Evenly spaced hydroxyl groups on the flat side allows for H bonds with water crystals. This makes it thermodynamically unfavorable for water molecules to add to the ice layer. This prevents the ice layer from growing too large
Mucins
Large, relatively unfolded glycoproteins. Consisting of about 80% carbohydrates, carbohydrates bind to water, causing the protein to take up a lot of space. Mucins bind to each other via dimerization domains and disulfide bridges. Hydrophobic alpha helix at the end embeds them into membranes
Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that catalyze reactions, increase the rate of reactions
Coenzymes
molecules that bind to enzymes and put them in their functional form