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General Biology I > lecture 5: biomolecules part 1 > Flashcards

lecture 5: biomolecules part 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are biomolecules?

A

Diverse set of molecules important for life. Mainly organic compounds —> carbon skeleton

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2
Q

What are the 4 major classes of biomolecules?

A
  1. Carbohydrates
  2. Lipids
  3. Proteins
  4. Nucleic acids
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3
Q

Why is carbon a good building block?

A

4 bonds = very stable
Can make double bonds
Infinite skeleton

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4
Q

What are the major components in organic compounds and biomolecules?

A
  • Carbon skeleton
  • Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen: 95% of human body mass is made up of C, H, O, and N
  • Sulfur, phosphorus (in biomolecules)
  • Ions Ca2+, Cl-, Mg2+, K+, Na+
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5
Q

What are the 2 types of sources of energy?

A
  1. Phototroph: uses light energy

2. Chemotroph: uses chemical energy

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6
Q

What are the 2 types of sources of carbon?

A
  1. Autotroph: uses inorganic compounds

2. Heterotroph: uses organic compounds

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7
Q

What are the two elements composing a biomolecule and what are their purposes?

A
  1. Carbon skeleton —> gives characteristic shape
  2. Functional groups —> characteristic properties

Together = give UNIQUE structures and properties that lead to UNIQUE biological functions

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8
Q

Carbon skeletons vary in… (4 elements)

A
  1. Chain length
  2. Presence and position of Double Bonds
  3. Branching
  4. Formation of Rings
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9
Q

What does “structure fits function” mean?

A

Shapes of molecules correlate with its function. At ALL levels of biological organization.

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10
Q

Monomer vs Polymer

A

Monomer: a single macromolecule
Polymer: chain of repeating subunits; many macromolecules

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11
Q

What are the 2 types and the 3 classes of carbohydrates?

A
  1. Simple carbohydrates
    - Monosaccharides
    - Disaccharides
  2. Complex carbohydrates
    - Polysaccharides
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12
Q

Monosaccharide structure?

A

Multiples of CH2O

  • Need at least 3 carbons
  • C3H6O3 —> C5H10O5 —> CGH12O6
  • Can form rings in water
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13
Q

Disaccharide structure?

A

Two monosaccharides joined together (2 hexagons)

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14
Q

Polysaccharide structure?

A

Chains of polymers; multiple hexagons

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15
Q

What is adenosine triphosphate (ATP)?

A

Energy currency, used to power biological work

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16
Q

What is the function of monosaccharides?

A

They are energy source that can be broken down in cells (by cellular respiration) to produce ATP.

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17
Q

What are the 2 functions of polysaccharides?

A
  1. Storage carbohydrates: to store energy in cells

2. Structural carbohydrates: used for building materials to provide strength and elasticity for support and protection

18
Q

Characteristics of storage carbohydrates?

A
  1. Chains and branching —> really COMPACT, so can store more energy
  2. Easily broken down
  3. ALPHA type linkage
19
Q

Characteristics of structural carbohydrates?

A
  1. No branching: linear and organized —> fit less glucose
  2. Need enzymes to break them down
  3. BETA type linkage
20
Q

What structural characteristic fit the function of storage carbohydrates?

A

Compact nature = can store more glucose

21
Q

What structural chracteristic fit the function of structural carbohydrates?

A

Linear and organized —> can interact with other chains to form higher orders of structure

22
Q

What are 2 types of storage carbohydrates and where do we find them?

A
  1. Starch: used for energy storage in PLANT cells

2. Glycogen: used for energy storage in ANIMAL cells

23
Q

What is an example of structural carbohydrate and where do we find it?

A

Cellulose: used for structural support in CELL WALLS of PLANTS and many algae

24
Q

Why are structural carbohydrates good building materials?

A
  • Can form higher order structures
  • Very strong and somewhat flexible
  • Are resistant to be broken down: most organisms do not have the enzymes to hydrolyze them
25
What are the primary decomposers of structural polysaccharides?
Bacteria and fungi species
26
How do herbivores digest cellulose in plants?
Microorganisms in their digestive system can produce enzymes to breakdown cellulose —> form symbiosis with host
27
Why is plant material an important part of our diet, even if we can’t digest most of it?
Dietary fiber, prevent disease, benefits to health
28
What does “hydrolyze” cellulose mean?
To break down a structure
29
What are the 3 types of lipids?
1. Fats 2. Phospholipids 3. Steroids
30
What is the unifying feature of all lipids?
They are all hydrophobic (little or no affinity for water)
31
Fat structure?
Glycerol + 3 fatty acids
32
Oleic acid (18:1) is a fatty acid. What do these numbers mean?
``` 18 = 18 carbons 1 = 1 double bond ```
33
Fat function in animals? (4 elements)
1. Fat = connective tissues 2. Acts as long-term energy storage 3. To protect internal organs 4. To insulate the body and help regulate temperature
34
Fat function in plants and where do we find them?
Fat = liquid —> oil | Found in seeds where they are an energy source for development of embryo (nutrients for embryo)
35
What is the difference between animal and plant fat?
1. Saturated fat = animal fat —> all filled up, max C-H bonds 2. Unsaturated fat = plant fat —> double bond
36
Why are plant fats in our diet better for us than animal fats?
Correlation good health with unsaturated fats
37
Phospholipid structure?
- Glycerol, phosphate group, charged/polar group + 2 fatty acids - Polar head = hydrophilic - Nonpolar tail = hydrophobic
38
Phospholipid function?
Phospholipid bilayers makes up biological membranes and form compartments - Water filled compartments within a water-world
39
Two types of phospholipids?
1. Lipid micelles: in circle with hydrophilic heads that interact with water & hydrophobic tails that interact with one another 2. Lipid bilayers: in layers with hydrophilic heads that interact with water & hydrophobic tails that interact with one another
40
Steroid structure?
Carbon skeleton consisting of 4 fused rings —> Nonpolar (hydrophobic) + Polar (hydrophilic) R group ==> Amphipathic
41
What is cholesterol (not a hormone)?
Important component of animal cell membranes | Acts as starting point to make other steroids
42
What are important cell-to-cell communication steroids called?
Hormones

General Biology I (19 decks)

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