Intro to bio molecules

Question 1

Structure of an atom

Answer 1

The structure of Atom comprises of its nucleus and the organization of the electrons around it. The primary structure of an atom consists of protons, electrons and neutrons. The nucleus of the atom is composed of protons and neutrons. The nucleus of the atom is surrounded by the electrons.

Question 2

Ionic bonds

Answer 2

• Gain and loss of electrons
• Electrostatic attraction • Soluble in water

maintaning ion concentations is critical - hypotonic - dilute - and hypertonic - concentrated -

Question 3

Covalent bonds

Answer 3

• Sharing electrons • Can be one from each partner or more • Determines the shape of the molecule • Stronger than ionic bond

Question 4

Polar covalent bonds

Answer 4

• Not all electrons are shared equally • Electrostatic interactions

Question 5

Van der waals forces

Answer 5

•Weak Interaction •Relatively transient

think of fats and oils

Question 6

Wht are the biological molecules

Answer 6

• Sugars • Fatty Acids • Steroids • Amino Acids • Nucleotides

Question 7

sugars

Answer 7

• Have the general structure (CH2O)n • Can adopt different shapes • Source of energy for cell

glucose, fructose, lactose , galactose

Question 8

Carbohydrates

Answer 8

• Sugars can be joined together and broken apart

condensation and hydrolsis

Sugars can be stored as oligosaccharids and polysaccharides

Question 9

Fatty acids

Answer 9

can be saturated or unsaturated

can be both hydrophillic and hydrophobic

can be stored as triacyl glycerol

important component of cell membranes

Question 10

steroids

Answer 10

4 fused carbon rings

functional groups attached

cholestrol - found in many membranes

testosterone - male steroid hormone

Question 11

amino acids

Answer 11

r group - amino - hydrogen - carboxyl

can be polymerised by a peptide bond

the different amino acids have different side chains

Uses of amino acids apart from protein synthesis

• sources of energy
• neurotransmitters - glutamic acid
• precursors for other molecules - glycine precursor for porphyrin ring

Question 12

nucleotides

Answer 12

• Nitrogen ring linked to a five carbon sugar • Sugar can be ribose or deoxyribose • Phosphate groups
• Short term energy store – ATP and GTP
• Store of electrons – NAD, NADP reducing store for biosynthesis or ATP reduction
• Cofactors for enzymes (eg coenzyme A) • Signalling molecules (eg cAMP)
• Building blocks for nucleic acid – DNA or RNA

Question 13

Biomolecules CAN be hybrids such as glycolipid or glycoproteins

Answer 13

Three dimensional struycture is very important in terms of hydrophobia and hydrophillia - it can go in a globular formation to save hydrophobia bonds from water

Question 14

Structure determines the immune response

Question 15

Viruses are coated with glycoproteins

what is the significance for vaccines?

Question 16

Changes in struture can disrupt function

Question 17

errors in protein folding cause disease

Answer 17

alzheimers

parkinsons

prion disease

diabetes type 2

huntington disease

Question 18

Changes in DNA structure can be a prelude to mutation

Question 19

Nothing exists in isolation everything must work together

Question 20

Biomolecules summary

Answer 20

Function of biomolecules is determined by their composition, bonds and structure