Lec. 5 - Macromolecules Flashcards
Explain carbohydrates; how are they made, what reactions are needed to link the molecules, where are they found.
Carbohydrates are sugars that provide quick energy and energy storage. They are primarily made through the process of photosynthesis in green plants, algae, and certain bacteria. The reactions needed to link involve mainly dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis.
Describe how proteins are formed, what reactions are used to connect the molecules, where are they found.
Proteins are made up of amino acids that are linked together in specific sequences. Peptide bond formations are covalent bonds that link amino acids together in a chain to create polypeptides.
Explain what determines the structure levels (primary, secondary, tertiary) of proteins, compare the different levels of structure, how does a proteins charge/polarity affect the structure.
The primary level of structure is determine by the amino acid sequence. The secondary structure is determine by the local folding patterns of the segments within the polypeptide chain. The tertiary structure is determined by interactions between distant amino acids in the chain.
Explain what nucleic acids are; where they are found, their role in biology, the reactions that form these molecules.
Nucleic acids are large biomolecules essential for storing, transmitting, and expressing genetic information in living organisms. They are found primarily within cells. They are formed by polymerization reactions.
Describe the bases found in DNA/RNA; why are hydrogen bonds important, where are these bonds found.
The bases in DNA are Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. They are the same for RNA, but instead of Thymine RNA has Uracil. Hydrogen bonds are responsible for base pairing in DNA and RNA.
Explain how lipids are formed; what reactions are needed.
Lipids are all formed differently based on what type of lipid needs to be formed.
Describe a phospholipid; what is the difference between triglycerides and phospholipids, where are phospholipids found.
A phospholipid is a class of lipids that are essential to forming the basic structural framework of cell membranes in living organisms. They are primarily found in the biological membranes throughout living organisms.
