Fundamentals of Biological Molecules Flashcards
1
Q
amino acid
A
- build protein
- all organisms use the same set of 20 amino acids in order to make protein
- Each amino acid is linked in a different sequence
2
Q
DNA
A
- long polymer chains
- made from the same set of four monomers/nucleotides
- these nucleotides are strung together in different sequences
3
Q
fatty acid
A
- serve as a concentrated food reserve in cells
they can be broken down to produce 6x as much usable energy
4
Q
hydrophobic
A
- a substance that fails to mix with water
5
Q
lipid bilayer
A
- a structure that forms the basis for all cell membranes
- composed largely of phospholipids
6
Q
noncovalent bond
A
- the bond in which no sharing of electron pairs takes place
- three types of noncovalent bonds
7
Q
polymer
A
- molecules made of many chemical subunits linked end-to-end
- their unique properties enable cells and organism to grow, reproduce, and to do all the other things that are characteristics of life
8
Q
subunit
A
- a distinct component of a larger unit
9
Q
atom
A
- the smallest unit of matter
- they form the basis of our existence
10
Q
disaccharide
A
- a carbohydrate comprised of two monosaccharides
11
Q
hydrogen bond
A
- a chemical bond that is formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond forms an electrostatic link with the more electronegative atom of a polar covalent bond in the same or another molecule
12
Q
hydrophobic interactions
A
- a property of nonpolar molecules
- can drive these molecules to assemble to form anhydrous domains in aqueous solution
13
Q
macromolecule
A
- a large complex molecule with relatively large molecular weight
14
Q
nucleotide
A
- the basic building block of nucleic acid (DNA, RNA)
- provide chemical energy in the form of their nucleoside triphosphates
- they participate in cell signaling
- form a second messenger in cellular processes
15
Q
protein
A
- biomolecules comprised of amino acid residues joined together by peptide bonds
16
Q
sugar
A
- generic term for any disaccharides and monosaccharides
- an essential structural component of living cells
- a source of energy in many organisms
17
Q
condensation reaction
A
- a molecule of water is expelled as a bond is formed between an -OH group on one sugar and an -OH group on another
18
Q
electron
A
- a particle with a charge of negative electricity
- acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids
19
Q
hydrolysis
A
- reverse process of a condensation reaction
- a molecule of water consumed
20
Q
inorganic molecule
A
- a molecule not consisting of carbon atoms
21
Q
monomer
A
- an organic compound that can react with other similar compounds to form a very large molecule
- building blocks of a polymer
22
Q
organic molecule
A
- a molecule that is normally found in or produced by living systems
23
Q
proton
A
- a particle with a charge of positive electricity
24
Q
Van der Waals attractions
A
- any two atoms approach each other closely
- these nonspecific interactions spring from fluctuation in the distribution of electrons in every atom
- can generate a transient attraction when the atoms are in very close proximity
25
Q
covalent bond
A
- a chemical bond wherein two or more atoms share one or more electron pairs
26
Q
electrostatic attraction
A
- ionic bonds that hold together Na+ and Cl- ions in a salt crystal
27
Q
hydrophilic
A
- a molecule is “water-loving”
- hydrophobic is its opposite
28
Q
ionic bond
A
- a type of chemical bond in which atoms, ions, or molecules are held together by electrostatic attraction
29
Q
monosaccharide
A
- a simple sugar the constitutes the building blocks of a more complex form of sugars
30
Q
polar
A
- a compound bearing a partial positive charge on once side and a partial negative charge on the other
31
Q
RNA
A
- a nucleic acid that is frequently single-stranded and folded onto itself, and composed of repeating nucleotide units of ribose sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base
