lecture 3 - cell building blocks Flashcards
What are the four types of biological molecules, in order of structure?
Building blocks, macromolecules, supramolecular assemblies, organelles
What are the biological building blocks?
Amino acids, nucleotides/nucleobases, simple carbohydrates, glycerol, fatty acids and hydrocarbon rings
What are the types of macromolecule?
proteins, DNA and RNA (nucleic acids), complex carbohydrates, lipids
What is the general structure of a macromolecule?
Generally made up of smaller units (monomers) that are joined by covalent bonds
What are the two types of macromolecule, in terms of structure?
Polymeric and non-polymeric
What is the name for complex carbohydrates?
Polysaccharides
What are the four ‘levels’ of carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysachharides
What are monosaccharides?
The single unit/monomer of carbohydrates
What is the characteristic of hexose monosaccharides?
They have 6 carbons.
What is the characteristic of pentose monosaccharides?
They have 5 carbons
What are the three key monosaccharides?
Glucose, fructose and galactose
What are the two key pentose monosaccharides?
Deoxyribose and Ribose
What are disaccharides?
Two monosaccharides joined together
What is the disaccharide formed from glucose and fructose?
Sucrose
What is the disaccharide formed from two glucose molecules?
maltose
What is the disaccharide formed from galactose and glucose?
lactose
How many monosaccharides make up oligosaccharides?
3 to 10
What are the two major plant carbohydrates?
Starch and cellulose/fiber
What are the two forms of starch?
Amylose and Amylopectin
What is the structure of Amylose?
It contains a linear chain of glucose monomers.
What is the animal carbohydrate?
Glycogen
What is the structure of amylopectin?
Branched chains of glucose.