Introduction, Molecular Forces, and Thermodynamics

Question 1

Definition of biochemistry

Answer 1

the study of the chemistry of life

Question 2

What are some characteristics of living organisms? (6)

Answer 2

1. cell is the basic structual unit
2. components are derived from biomolecules (protein, nucleic acid, carbohydrates, lipids)
3. the production and function of biomolecules is regulated (pathways)
4. energy is constantly needed
5. information is incoded in nucleic acids
6. all organisms share common ancestor

Question 3

Give the 3 domains of life and their characteristics

Answer 3

Archea- extreme environments, membrane lipids are distinct
Bacteria- includes all prokaryotic, pathogenic organisms
Eukaryota- store DNA in nucleus, contains all multicellular organisms (and some unicellular)

Question 4

What is a nucleus?

Answer 4

site of DNA stroge, replication and mRNA synthesis

Question 5

What is rough ER?

Answer 5

surrounds the nucleus
site of membrane and secreted protein synthesis
covereved with rhibosomes

Question 6

What is golgi complex?

Answer 6

site of membrane and secreted protein modification (“maturation”)

Question 7

What are rhibosomes?

Answer 7

produce proteins

cover the rough ER

Question 8

What are mitochondria?

Answer 8

site of aerobic ATP synthesis and other aerobic metabolism

Question 9

What are the monomers and linkages of proteins?

Answer 9

amino acids

amide (peptide bonds)

Question 10

What are the monomers and linkages of nucleic acids?

Answer 10

neucleotides

phosphoester linkages

Question 11

What are the monomers and linkages of carbohydrates?

Answer 11

sugar

acetal and hemiacetal (glycosidic) linkages

Question 12

What is the scientific notation for pico-. nano-, micro-. and milli-?

Answer 12

pico= 10^-12
nano= 10^-9
micro= 10^-6
milli= 10^-3

Question 13

what is native structure?

Answer 13

most stable conformation of a molecule

Question 14

Describe covalent bonds

Answer 14

strong bonds resulting from electron sharing
establish configuration and sequence of biological polymers
establish the shape of blocks to be packed when macromolecules fold

Question 15

What are some noncovalent (weak forces)? What do they do?

Answer 15

tell you how a molecule folds
ionic forces
hydrogen bonds
van der Waals interactions
hydrophobic effect

Question 16

Describe hydrogen bonds

Answer 16

involve a bond donor (N or O with an H bonded to it) and a bond acceptor (N or O with a lone pair)
DONT keep proteins folded

Question 17

Describe van der Waals interactions

Answer 17

happen when 2 atoms get close

weak and short ranged

Question 18

Describe the hydrophobic effect

Answer 18

the main driving force of protein folding and nucleic acid base stacking
bringing 2 hydrophobic surfaces together when immersed in H2O causes it to be more stable than when separated