Intro to macromolecules and nutrients

Question 1

cabohydrates basics-
- how many hydroxyl groups do they contain
- 4 important roles
- how are they named
- what is a monosaccharide

Answer 1

• at least 2
• energy source, external protection for cells
  assist cells in recognising molecules when attached to proteins and lipids, structure of nucleic acids
• Named according to number of carbon atoms eg. pentoses 5 carbons
• simplest form of carb (eg. glucose)

Question 2

oligosaccharides
- how many monosaccharides must link covalently
- what is a link between monosaccharides called
- how are these bonds formed
- how are these bonds broken

Answer 2

• 2-10
• glycosidic bond
• condensation
  hydrolysis

Question 3

disaccharides
- what are they
- glucose plus glucose =
- glucose plus fructose =
- glucose plus galactose =

Answer 3

• a type of oligosaccharide when 2 monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bond
• maltose
• sucrose
• lactose

Question 4

polysaccharides
- how many monos
- what does cellulose do and why is it important for humans
- where is starch found, what is its structure and what does it do
- what is glycogens role
- what is a simple and complex carb

Answer 4

• greater than 10
• polymer of glucose found in plants cell walls providing support and is major constituent of dietary fibre
• found in seeds of plants (cereals, nuts), mixture of amylose and amylopectin, storage of energy in plants
• major source of stored carbohydrate in the body
• simple carbs made of 1 and 2 monosaccharides and completex are >3

Question 5

lipids
- important roles
- what is their solublity

Answer 5

• Vital constituent of membranes, hormones and vitamins and are a large energy source
• low/are not soluble in water

Question 6

fatty acids-
- what are they
- how many carbon atoms
- what makes it saturated or unsaturated

Answer 6

• Long carbon chain with hydrogen atoms all around and a carboxyl group at one end
• 12-26
• saturated when all carbons linked by single bonds, unsaturated when at least 1 double bond so have room for hydrogen atoms

Question 7

triacylglycerols/triglycerides
- how present
- positive uses of them
- structure

Answer 7

• Most abundant lipid in body - about 95% of dietary fat
• large amounts of energy available
• Made of a glycerol unit and 3 fatty acids via ester bonds

Question 8

steroids and phospolipids
- key role
- key structure meet function of phospholipids

Answer 8

• cell membranes
• Phospholipids have hydrophobic tails which point inwards so they don’t touch water creating the structure of cell membranes

Question 9

vitamins and minerals-
- roles
- energy value
- solubility

Answer 9

• Complement carbohydrates, fats and protein in nutrition, regulate bodily functions, energy provision during exercise
• none
• either water or fat soluble

Question 10

examples of important vitamins

Answer 10

• B1 (thiamine) - found in active site of pyruvate dehydrogenase
• B6 - coenzymes for aminotransferases and neurotransmitters
• B12 - serves as enzyme in fatty acid proessing
• Vitamin A - contained within retinas
• Vitamin D - involved in calcium reabsorption - key for bone health
• Pantothenate - contributes to coenzyme A, key molecule in metabolism
• Folate - involved in synthesis of DNA
• Niacin - precursor of NAD and NADP
• B2 (riobflavin) - precursor of coenzymes for redox reactions

Question 11

important minerals
- Sodium na2+
- Potassium K+
- Calcium Ca2+
- Magnesium Mg2+
- Iron Fe2+
- Copper
- Zinc ZN2+
- Manganese
- Non metal minerals - Chlorine and phosphorus

Answer 11

○ Main cation in extracellular fluids
○ Essential for electrical transmission in nerves and muscles
○ Maintain water content in various compartments of the body

○ Potassium interacts with sodium to maintain fluid balance and electrical impulses

○ Critical component of bones and blood clotting

○ cofactor for hundreds of enzymes

○ Embedded in Hb carrying o2 and the electron transport chain

○ Cofactor for cytochrome c, a key component of the electron transport chain

○ Sits in active site of over 200 enzymes, including carbonic anhydrase that helps get rid of CO2

○ is a cofactor for over 100 enzymes involved in metabolism

○ the main anion in extracellular fluids where it interacts with Na in the maintenance of fluid balance and electrical charges across cell membranes, also used in the production of digestive hydrochloric acid

○ phosphoryl groups are covalently attached to many biological compounds, eg. Nucleic acids, ATP