Lecture 3 - Buliding blocks of cells Flashcards
Organise biological molecules into higher order structures
Building blocks | V Macromolecules | V Supramolecular assemblies | V Organelles
What are macromolecules?
Macromolecules are the organic biological molecules that are necessary for life.
What are macromolecules made up of?
Macromolecules are typically composed of thousands of atoms or more adding up to a large molecular mass.
They are made up of smaller units called building blocks (monomers) that are joined by covalent bonds.
What building blocks form proteins?
Amino acids
What building blocks form DNA + RNA?
Nucleotides
What building blocks form complex carbohydrates?
Simple carbohydrates
What building blocks form lipids?
Glycerol, fatty acids, hydrocarbon rings
All life is mainly composed of what four molecules?
Polysaccharides (complex carbohydrates)
nucleic acids (DNA & RNA)
proteins
lipids
What differentiates lipids from the other four macromolecules?
Lipids are the only one out of the four that is non-polymeric
What are the four levels of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides
disaccharides
oligosaccharides
polysaccharides
What are monosaccharides?
Monosaccharides are the single unit building blocks of carbohydrates
What are the different types of monosaccharides?
Hexose monosaccharides: The building blocks of higher order carbohydrates. A monosaccharide is considered hexose if it has six carbons in it.
Pentode monosaccharides: usually part of larger molecules. A pentose monosaccharide has five carbons in it.
What is a disaccharide?
Two monosaccharides joined together
What are oligosaccharides?
Several monosaccharides linked together (approx 3-10)
What are polysaccharides?
Polysaccharides are many monosaccharides linked together.
Approx >10
What are the three functions of carbohydrates?
Recognition
Energy
Structure
What are nucleic acids?
Nucleic acid are informational molecules that gives code to the cells to do their functions.
(DNA & RNA)
What are nucleotides made up of?
Phosphate, a deoxyribose sugar and a base
What are proteins?
Proteins are molecules by which cells perform their functions in the whole organism.
How do amino acids differ?
Amino acids differ by R- group
What proteins have the function of transport?
Haemoglobin - carries oxygen
Cytochrome c - carries electrons
What are lipids?
Lipids are not polymers, instead, they are heterogeneous compounds.
What are examples of heterogeneous compounds?
5
Triacylglycerols (fats) Steroids (sterols) Phospholipids Glycolipids Fat soluble vitamins
Are lipids hydrophobic or hydrophilic?
Hydrophobic
