Lecture 3: Building Blocks of Cells Flashcards
1.Outline the relationship between moecular 'building blocks,' and higher order structures in cells. 2.Identify the structures of major types of macromolecules in cells. 3.Describe the roles of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids in cells.
Name the steps from building blocks to organelles.
Building blocks - Macromolecules - Supramolecular Assemblies - Organelles
What are the building blocks?
Amino Acids, Nucleotides, Simple Carbohydrates, Hydrocarbon Rings, Glycerol, Fatty Acids.
What are the macromolecules?
Protein, Complex Carbohydrates, Nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA), Lipids.
What is the building block of proteins?
Amino acids
What is the building block of complex carbohydrates?
Simple carbohydrates such as glucose.
What is the building block of nucleic acids?
Nucleotides, containing bases A-T, C-G in DNA and A-U, C-G in RNA.
What is the building blocks of Lipids?
Hydrocarbon Rings, Glycerol, Fatty Acids.
How do lipids differ from the other macromolecules?
Lipids are not polymers like the rest of the macromolecules.
What is the reaction called which joins the monomers together?
Dehydration reactions, releases water molecule.
What is the process called which breaks the monomers down?
Hydrolysis.
What are the four levels of carbohydrates? How many monosaccharides does each one have?
Monosaccharides (1)
Disaccharides (2)
Oligosaccharides (3-10)
Polysaccharides (11+)
What are some examples of polysaccharides and where are they found?
Cellulose, found in the cell wall of plants.
Glycogen, found in animals.
Starch, found in plants.
Explain the function of a complex carbohydrate, energy and energy storage.
Energy and Energy Storage - complex carbs are efficient sources of energy which fuel muscle contraction, broken down into smaller sugars when consumed. Leftover is then converted into glycogen so it can be stored.
Explain the function of a complex carbohydrate, recognition.
Complex carbs coat the surface of cells and have potential to carry the information necessary for cell-cell recognition.
What are the three functions of a carbohydrate?
Energy / Energy Storage, Recognition and Structure
Explain the function of a complex carbohydrate, structure?
cellulose a polysaccharide is used as a cell wall.
What is the function of a protein?
Proteins have many various functions due to the variety of amino acids. However, one of the most important is a type of natural catalyst called an enzyme. Enzymes in the human body facilitate specific reactions.
What is a common feature of all lipids?
All lipids are hydrophobic, water hating.
What are the functions of lipids?
Structural, Regulatory and Energy
Explain the function of lipids, energy.
Lipids can also be stored for energy, infact lipids usually exceed the amount of glycogen energy as the body simply can’t store as much glycogen as lipids.
Explain the function of lipids, regulation.
Some lipids regulate specific biological processes such as tissue repair, blood clotting and inflammation
Explain the function of lipids, structure.
Cholesterol and Phospholipids provide structure in the cell wall.
