Lecture 3 (Chemical components of Cell) Flashcards
Covalent bonds are when:
Atoms fill their outer shell by sharing electron pairs
Sometimes, one atom will attract an electron pair better than its partner (Polar molecules)
What are the 3 non covalent bonds?
Ionic, Hydrogen and Van der Waals
Ionic bonds are when:
A positive and negative atom attract to one another (+ and -)
Hydrogen bonds are when
an electropositive hydrogen attracts to an electronegative atom (polar atoms)
Water is important because:
Water can form weak
interactions with many polar
organic molecules like amino
acids and sugars.
▪ Water helps maintain the
structure and function of
macromolecules and the
complexes that they form.
What is an Acid, Base, Amphoteric, and Buffers?
▪ Acids release protons.
▪ Bases accept protons.
▪ Amphoteric molecules can act as either acids or bases.
▪ Buffers in living systems resist changes in pH
what are the 4 types of Macromolecules?
proteins,
nucleic acids,
polysaccharides, and
certain lipids
What are lipids? What types of Lipids are there?
Lipids dissolve in organic
solvents, not water.
▪ Important cellular lipids include
fats, steroids, and phospholipids.
What is the primary function of Carbohydrates?
Why does it dissolve in water?
stores of chemical
energy and as materials for biological construction.
highly water soluble due to their hydroxyl groups.
What are proteins? what are they made of?
macromolecules that carry
out a cell’s activities.
made of amino acid
monomers.
▪ Twenty different amino acids,
with different chemical
properties, are commonly used
in the construction of proteins.
▪ All amino acids have a carboxyl
and an amino group, separated
by a single carbon atom
What is the Primary structure of Protein?
the amino acid sequence of a protein
What is the Secondary Structure of proteins?
the conformation of portions of the
polypeptide chain depending on the amino acid
sequence
What is the tertiary structure of Proteins?
describes the conformation of the entire polypeptide.
are categorized by shape as either fibrous
proteins, which are elongated, or globular proteins, which are compact.
What is the Quaternary Structure of proteins?
Proteins composed of subunits linked by
covalent disulfide bonds or held together by noncovalent bonds are said to have quaternary
structure.
What is denaturation of a protein?
The unfolding of a protein
What is a molecular chaperon’s function and where do they bind?
molecular chaperones, bind to short stretches of
hydrophobic amino acids to help unfolded proteins achieve their proper
3D conformation.
What is a proteomic?
The entire inventory of proteins that is produced by an organism
What are nucleic acids?
polymers of nucleotides that store and
transmit genetic information.
What are nucleotides made of?
nucleotide consists of three parts:
a five-carbon sugar,
a phosphate group,
and a nitrogenous base
What are the pairings of nitrogenous bases that exist in DNA and RNA?
Both: Purines of Adenine and Guanine
DNA only: the pyrimidines Thymine and Cytosine
RNA Only: The pyrimidines Uracil and Cytosine
What are ribozymes?
RNA enzymes with catalytic activity
Describe the roles of electrons in the formation of
covalent bonds.
▪ Describe the role of noncovalent bonds in the structure
of molecules such as water.
▪ Explain the characteristics of acids, bases, and buffers.
▪ Describe the general structure and functions of biological
molecules.
▪ Identify the monomers, the synthesis and the functions
in the cell of the four types of biological molecules.
