Functions Of Biological Molecules

Question 0

What are the main functions of carbohydrates?

Answer 0

Glucose - broken down during respiration to provide chemical energy
Starch - energy storage carbohydrate in plants
Glycogen - energy storage carbohydrate in animals
Cellulose - structural carbohydrate in plant cell walls

Question 1

What are carbohydrates?

Answer 1

Green plants trap light energy and use carbon dioxide and water to build the carbohydrate glucose. Glucose can be used directly or converted into larger carbohydrates.

Question 2

What are lipids?

Answer 2

Are classified as biological molecules that are insoluble in water but which are soluble in organic solvents (such as ethanol). This definition, based on simple properties, brings together two completely different types of compounds: the triglycerides and the phospholipids which have a related structure and the steroids which are completely different.

Question 3

What are the functions of lipids?

Answer 3

Triglycerides - long-term storage of energy (plant and animals)
- thermal insulation in homeotherms
Phospholipids - structural, as part of the plasma membrane
Steroids - hormonal, such as testosterone and oestrogen
- structural, as part of plasma membrane

Question 4

What is a protein?

Answer 4

Each gene carrier the information required to code for one polypeptide. The polypeptide is a chain of amino acids which will become part of a protein. Many different proteins are made to keep a cell functioning.

Question 5

What are the functions of proteins?

Answer 5

Catalytic - enzymes, such as DNA polymerase and kinase
Structural - tubulin in the cytoskeleton
- collagen in bone and cartilage
Messenger - hormones, such as ADH and insulin
Carriers - membrane proteins, such as aquaporin