lecture 3 - cell building blocks Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four types of biological molecules, in order of structure?

A

Building blocks, macromolecules, supramolecular assemblies, organelles

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2
Q

What are the biological building blocks?

A

Amino acids, nucleotides/nucleobases, simple carbohydrates, glycerol, fatty acids and hydrocarbon rings

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3
Q

What are the types of macromolecule?

A

proteins, DNA and RNA (nucleic acids), complex carbohydrates, lipids

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4
Q

What is the general structure of a macromolecule?

A

Generally made up of smaller units (monomers) that are joined by covalent bonds

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5
Q

What are the two types of macromolecule, in terms of structure?

A

Polymeric and non-polymeric

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6
Q

What is the name for complex carbohydrates?

A

Polysaccharides

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7
Q

What are the four ‘levels’ of carbohydrates?

A

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides, polysachharides

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8
Q

What are monosaccharides?

A

The single unit/monomer of carbohydrates

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9
Q

What is the characteristic of hexose monosaccharides?

A

They have 6 carbons.

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10
Q

What is the characteristic of pentose monosaccharides?

A

They have 5 carbons

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11
Q

What are the two key pentose monosaccharides?

A

Deoxyribose and Ribose

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12
Q

What are disaccharides?

A

Two monosaccharides joined together

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13
Q

What is the disaccharide formed from glucose and fructose?

A

Sucrose

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14
Q

How many monosaccharides make up oligosaccharides?

A

3 to 10

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15
Q

What are the two major plant carbohydrates?

A

Starch and cellulose/fiber

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16
Q

What is the animal carbohydrate?

A

Glycogen

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17
Q

What are the functions of carbohydrates? (3)

A

Recognition, energy, structure

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18
Q

What is the recognition function of carbohydrates?

A

Carbohydrates are found on the surface of cells and are able to recognise toxins, proteins and bacteria, as well as communicate with neighbouring cells.

Energy, structure, communication

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19
Q

What is the energy function of carbohydrates?

A

Energy is stored in plant or animal polysaccharides and can be utilised by the body when broken down by enzymes.

20
Q

What is the structure function of carbohydrates?

A

Cellulose is found the cell wall of plant cells, providing shape and structure

21
Q

What is the function of DNA?

A

To store and transfer genetic information.

22
Q

What is the function of RNA?

A

To code for amino acids and act as a messenger between DNA and ribosomes, in order to make proteins.

23
Q

What is the structure of a nucleotide?

A

Phosphate, sugar and base

24
Q

What type of sugar is found in DNA nucleotides?

A

Deoxyribose

25
Q

What type of sugar is found in RNA nucleotides?

A

Ribose

26
Q

What are the bases found in DNA?

A

A, T, G, C

27
Q

What are the bases found in RNA?

A

G, C, A, U

28
Q

What is the structural difference between deoxyribose and ribose?

A

Deoxyribose has 2 hydroxyl groups, while ribose has 3 hydroxyl groups.

29
Q

What is the structure of a polynucleotide strand?

A

A sugar phosphate backbone with bases coming off it.

30
Q

What is the structure of the sugar phosphate backbone?

A

Alternating sugar and phosphate groups, joined by phosphodiester bonds

31
Q

What is the structure of RNA?

A

A single linear polynucelotide strand

32
Q

What is the structure of DNA?

A

Two polynucleotides strands with bases paired up to form a double helix shape.

33
Q

What is a protein?

A

A molecule by which cells perform functions, inside the cell and on an intracellular level.

34
Q

What are the building blocks of proteins?

A

Amino acids

35
Q

How many amino acids are there?

A

20

36
Q

What is the structure of an amino acid?

A

Central carbon, amine group, carboxylate group, hydrogen, ‘R’ side chain

37
Q

How do amino acids differ?

A

Based on the ‘R’ group/side chain

38
Q

Where are proteins made?

A

In the ribosome

39
Q

What are the chemical characteristics of lipids?

A

Hydrophobic and non-polar

40
Q

What is the scientific name for ‘fats’?

A

Triacylglycerols

41
Q

What are the functions of lipids? (3)

A

structure, regulation, energy

42
Q

What is the structural function of lipids?

A

Choleserol and phospholipids make up the cell membrane. The hydrophopbic part of these lipids is buried within the membrane.

43
Q

What is the overall structure of a phospholipid?

A

A hydrophilic head (glycerol, phosphate, etc.) and hydrophobic tails of fatty acids

44
Q

What is the regulatory function of lipids (specifically cholesterol)?

A

Choleresterol gives rise to testosterone, which in turn gives rise to estradiol. These chemicals/hormones regulate various parts of body function.

45
Q

What is the energy function of lipids?

A

Fats store energy which the body can gain from food.

46
Q

Are deoxyribose and ribose pentose or hexose monosaccharides?

A

pentose

47
Q

What type of molecule is cholesterol?

A

Steroid