lecture 2 Flashcards
Monomers and polyers
Large molecules usually contain what?
polymers that consist of many small molecules (Monomers) attached in branched or unbranched repetivie patterns
What is a dehydration reaction?
reaction involves the attachment of one monomer to another, with the loss of the equivalent of one molecule of water
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
a larger molecule is split into two smaller ones, with the addition of the equivalent of a molecule of water
What are carbohydrates?
simple sugars and their polymers
What is the general fomula of carbs?
(CH2O)n hence carbohydrate
How many carbon atoms do simple sugars (monosaccharides) typically have?
3-7
what is the monosaccharide form?
straight chain or ring
When does a ring monosaccharide form?
ring form predominates in aqueous solution
Monosaccharides are often what?
often the raw material (precursors) for building other molecules
Disaccharides consist of what?
what attaches them together?
two monosaccharides attached to each other by Glycosidic linkage
Poly saccharides
starch is what?
The main storage form of carbon in plants and some algae
What is Glycogen
The main storage polysaccharide of animals
What is cellulose?
a structural polysaccharide that is a principal component of plant cell walls
Function of carbohydrates?
energy storage
energy transport
energy generation
Builds material, especially walls around the cells of plants and many protests
activities at the cell surface- recognition, signalling
Lipid stuctures
Hydrocarbons with little or no o2
Why do they not associate with H20?
bacuse they have many C-H and C-C bonds with are non-polar, most of the structure of lipid molecule will not associate with water
What are the two parts of the fatty acids?
a hydrophilic carboxyle group
an unbranched hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain
What is special about fatty acids?
they are amphipathic; they have a hydrophobic region and a hydrophilic region
Aspects of structural variation in fatty acids?
length of carbon chain (12-24 is typical)
saturated or unsaturated
location of double bond
cis or trans configuration at double bond
Triacylglycerols are what?
are fatty acid esters of glycerol (a 3- carbon alcohol)
Most animal triacyglycerol are in what state at room temp?
solid at room temp (fats in common speech)
Most animal triacyglycerol are in what state at room temp?
are liquid at room temp (Oils)
What is the characteristics of phospholipids?
amphipathic, like fatty acids, and they spontaneously form bilayers when placed in aqueous solution
