Intro to Biological Molecules Handout Flashcards
Van der waals forces
weak interactions between atoms due to continuous movement of negatively charged electrons (oscillations in configuration of large molecules), which forms dipoles
Water characteristics (5)
- Good solvent
- Participates in chemical reactions (e.g., digestion)
- High heat of vaporization (requires lots of heat to evaporate)
- Absorbs and releases heat slowly
- Provides lubrication
Describe lipid solubility
Insoluble in water, dissolve in solvents like chloroform
Triglyceride function and structure
Energy source, protection, insulation
Structure: glycerol and fatty acids
What’s the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds; unsaturated do
Amphipathic
Has polar and nonpolar end
Hydrophilic vs. hydrophobic
Polar vs. nonpolar
Prostaglandins
Derivatives of fatty acids which act similar to hormones
Carbohydrate functions (3)
- Provide energy (glycogen is stored form of glucose)
- Form part of structural elements of some cells
- Supply carbon atoms for synthesis of cellular components
How are disaccharides formed?
Formed from 2 monosaccharides by elimination of water (e.g., glucose + sucrose = fructose)
Amino acid components
Basic amino group (-NH2), acidic carboxyl group (-COOH), side chain (R group)
Secondary protein structure
Regular, repeated spatial patterns in different regions of a polypeptide chain (alpha helix and beta pleated sheet) - local interactions
Tertiary protein structure
3D structure resulting from side chain interactions (polypeptide bent at specific sites, folded back and forth)
Quaternary protein structure
How subunits (two or more polypeptide chains) bind together and interact
Protein functions (5)
- Enzymes
- Make up cytoskeleton (supports and organizes cell)
- Muscle contraction (actin-myosin interactions)
- Certain hormones (insulin) are proteins
- Antibodies
3 components of DNA
Nitrogenous base (ATGC), deoxyribose (5C sugar), phosphate group
What holds DNA double helix together?
H bonds between bases of adjoining strands, and Van der waals forces between stacked bases
Gene
Sequence of bases in a segment of DNA which codes for the synthesis of a particular protein
How is RNA different from DNA (3)?
- 5C sugar is ribose
- Uracil instead of thymine
- Single-stranded (can be double-stranded, however)
LDL (bad cholesterol) levels
Less than 130 mg/dL: desirable
130-159 mg/dL: Borderline-High Risk
160 mg/dL and above: High Risk
Total cholesterol levels
under 200 mg/dL: Desirable
200-239 mg/dL: borderline-high
240 mg/dL and up: high (more than 2x risk of heart disease than someone with under 200)
