Macromlecules :carbohydrates, lipids Flashcards

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1
Q

What are carbohydrates made of?

A

Small sugar molecules -monosaccharides. A monosaccharide chain is called a polysaccharide.

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2
Q

What are the functional groups in a carbohydrate?

A

Hydroxyls and carbonyl. (meaning it is hydrophilic and therefore, carbohydrates are easily metabolised in our body)

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3
Q

What is the main role of carbohydrates in our body?

A

It is a short term source of energy.

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4
Q

In aqueous solutions, most pentoses and hexoses form rings, true or false?

A

True.

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5
Q

glucose + glucose = ?
glucose + fructose =?

A

glucose + glucose = maltose

glucose + fructose = sucrose

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6
Q

What is sucrose?

A

Sucrose is formed when one glucose and one fructose join together. Sucorse is the most abundant disaccharide and it provides an energy source for plants.

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7
Q

State 3 glucose polymers and contrast between them.

A

Starch, glycogen and cellulose.

  1. The oxygens in starch and glycogen are in an orientation of downward formation.
  2. Starch and glycogen are very similar and they are also easily metabolised. Cellulose however, acts as a fibre and is harder to metabolise.
  3. The oxygens in cellulose are in an up-down alternating formation. This allows cellulose to interact with other polysaccharide chains using hydrogen bonds.
  4. The structural difference b/w starch and glycogen is that glycogen starts forming branches.
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8
Q

The orientation of polysaccharides does not affect its chemical property. True or false?

A

False.

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9
Q

How do plants and animals respectively store glucose in them?

A

Plants store glucose as starch and animals store glucose as glycogen. Animals have enzymes to break down starch as glucose.

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10
Q

Where is glycogen stored in humans?

A

Liver and muscles.

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11
Q

What is the most abudant organic compund?

A

Cellulose.

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12
Q

How does cellulose give structural integrity to plant cell walls?

A

Parallel orientation of strands help form hydrogen bonds for structural integrity.

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13
Q

Why are pandas stupid?

A

A panda’s diet is ~90% composed of bamboo shoots, in which the major component (~50-70%) in cellulose
Pandas have not (yet) evolved the ability to digest cellulose and still retain a carnivore digestive tract.

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14
Q

Why can herbivores digest cellulose?

A

Certain herbivore animals (including cows and termites) and decomposing fungi have the enzymes (cellulase) to hydrolyze cellulose.

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15
Q

Where can chitin be found?

A

Insect exoskeletons and fungi cell walls.

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16
Q

Name one practical use of cellulose for humans?

A

Cellulose helps towels be absorbent

17
Q

Why are lipids diversely hydrophobic and what are fats composed of?

A

Lipids are hydrophobic because of the large amounts of carbons and hydrogens (methyls). Fats are formed through a dehydration reaction between glycerol and 3 fatty acid chains.

18
Q

Differentiate between saturated and unsaturated fats?

A

Saturated fats :-
- fats with only single bonds
-fats that exist as a solid in room temp
ex : animal fats,butter

Unsaturated fats :-
-fats with one more double bonds
-Due to the kinks in unsaturated fats , they exist mostly as liquid in room temp.
ex: fish fat, oil

19
Q

What are the types of unsaturated fats?

A

Cis fats : the hydrogens are on adjacent or on the same side

Trans fats : The hydrogens are on opposite sides.

20
Q

What is partial and complete hydrogenation?

A

Partial hydrogenation is when a hydrogen is introduced to the double bond of a cis isomer or an unsaturated fat, and the hydrogen moves to one side of the double bond creating a trans fat.

Complete hydrogenation involved introducing a hydrogen to the double bond of a cis isomer, and a hydrogen would be added on both sides forming a saturated isomer.

21
Q

Partial hydrogenation was done to increase the shelf life of oils, but what was the downside?

A

Partial hydrogenation of oils would sometimes result in complete hydrogenation or the formation of a trans fat, which would lead to cardiovascular diseases.

22
Q

What are phospholipids?

A
  • Phospholipds are composed of a hydrophobic diglyceride and a negatively charged polar phosphate group. (amphipathic)

-Phospholipids are the major component of cell membranes

-The amphipathic property allows for cell membranes to retain their shape

23
Q

Define amphipathic?

A

Compounds in which segments have distinct polarities are amphipathic (one side is water soluble and other is insoluble).

24
Q

How does the amphipathic nature of soap help to wash away dirt and viruses?

A

Soap has a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail. The hydrophobic tail attracts fat lipid membranes and the hydrophilic head attracts water, together they break apart the the virus membrane.

25
Q

What are steroids?

A

Steroids are lipids with a hydrocarbon chain and 4 fused rings.

26
Q

What is the most common component in animal cell walls?

A

Cholesterol is the most common components of animal cell membranes
Also acts as a precursor for making other steroids, including sex hormones.

27
Q

Why is cholesterol bad for us?

A

The polar head groups of steroids and phospholipids interact with another and can integrate into the cell membrane.
Inclusion of cholesterol into cell membrane’s decreases their fluidity, affecting what molecules can pass through

28
Q

What happens if there is an increase of cholesterol in RBC?

A

RBCs are responsible for transporting oxygen from the lungs to different parts of the body for energy production. Increase of cholesterol can cause the motility of RBC to decease, thereby decreasing oxygen transport.