Lecture 1 Biological Molecules and Enzymes Flashcards
Reaction that breaks most macromolecules apart
Hydrolysis
The building blocks for most complex lipids
Composed of long chains of carbons truncated at one end by a carboxylic acid
Fatty Acids
Specialized cells whose cytoplasm contains almost nothing but triglycerides
Adipocytes
Lipids with a phosphate group attached
Phospholipids
Molecules that have polar and non polar ends
Amphipathic
Long fatty acid chains with a backbone made of an amino alcohol called a sphingosine
Sphingolipids
Four ringed structures including hormones, vitamin D, and cholesterol
Steroids
Type of lipid formed by an ester linkage between a long-chain alcohol and a long-chain fatty acid
Waxes
Released from cell membranes as local hormones that regulate, among other things, blood pressure, body temperature,mand smooth muscle contraction
Eicosanoids
Example: prostaglandins (Aspirin is an inhibitor of the synthesis of this)
A lipid core surrounded by phospholipids and apoproteins
Lipoproteins
- phospholipids serve as a structural component of membranes
- Triacylglycerols store metabolic energy and provide thermal insulation and padding
- Steroids regulate metabolic activities
- Some fatty acids (eicosanoids) even serve as local hormones
Major Functions of Lipids
Six carbon carbohydrates
Hexoses
Branched glucose polymer with alpha linkages
Glycogen
Increases the rate of facilitated diffusion for glucose and other monosaccharides
Insulin
Long term storage of glucose in plants
Starch
Glucose polymer with beta linkages
Structural support in plants
Cellulose
Pentose sugar + nitrogenous base
Nucleoside
Join nucleotides together between phosphate group and 3rd carbon of pentose sugar
Phosphodiester Bonds
Building blocks of proteins
Amino Acids
Number and sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
Primary Structure
Overall shape of protein
Conformation
3D shape of polypeptide chain formed by curls and folds of the chain
Tertiary Structure
Two or more polypeptide chains bound together
Quaternary Structure
Disruption of a proteins native conformation
Denature
The solvent in which the chemical reactions of livings cells take place
Water
70-80% of a cell’s mass is water
