Lecture 1: What is Biochemistry? Flashcards
what are 4 properties of living things?
- complex, highly organized
- all biological structures carry out functions for survival
- carry out energy transformations
- self-replication
almost all life on earth depends on the __ to capture and use energy
sun
which 6 non-matallic elements account for 97% of our mass?
carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur
which 5 elements in their ionized form are essential to all life?
ca, k, na, mg, cl
which 4 elements are most abundant in living things?
HOCN
why are HOCN the primary elements in life? (3)
- form covalent bonds
- light elements, stronger bonds
- able to form larger macromolecules
most of the body is __ and the rest if ___ compounds
water; carbon-based
why is life carbon based? (3)
- one of the lightest elements to routinely form covalent bonds
- versatile in its ability to form large, complex, diverse molecules
- tetravalence
- make backbone of biomolecules
which element is responsible for the diversity of life and biomolecules?
carbon
which part of biomolecules participates in reactions?
functional groups
functional groups have unique reaction characteristics between different molecules (T/F)
false, they always behave the same
__ and __ of functional groups give each molecule its unique properties
number and arrangement
which major biomolecules are bipolymers?
nucleic acids, proteins, carbohydrates
which major biomolecule are not polymeric?
lipids
what is the monomer of nucleic acids?
nucleotides
what is the monomer of proteins?
amino acids
what is the monomer of carbohydrates?
monosaccharides
DNA/RNA are __ that store ___ and enable __ production
macromolecules; genetic information; protein
nucleic acids are made of ___ linked by __ bonds
nucleotides; phosphodiester covalent
nucleotides are made of ___, __ and ___
nitrogenous base, pentose sugar, phosphate
which nitrogenous bases are purines?
adenine and gaunine
which nitrogenous bases are pyramidines?
thymine, cytosine, uracil
proteins can take the form of __, __, and __
enzymes, hormones, antibodies
proteins are made of __ linked by __ bonds
amino acids; peptides
protein polymers ___ into precise 3D structures that facilitate ____
fold; biochemical functions
amino acids contain a ___ carbon that is attached to what 4 groups?
alpha; amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, unique side chain
which two groups can be ionized in an amino acid?
amino, carboxyl
at typical pH, what is the form of the ionizable groups of an amino acid?
amino is protonated (+) and the carboxyl is deprotonated (-)
carbohydrates serve as storage for __ and as __ components
energy; structural
lipids are a diverse group of ___
non-polymeric molecules
lipids are involved in ___ and ___
fuel storgae and serving as bariers
lipids generally have what 2 components?
- hydrophobic HC tail
2. Hydrophilic head (polar or charged)