Macromolecules

Question 1

what is an organic compound

Answer 1

a compound containing carbon

Question 2

what are the four important molecules in living organisms

Answer 2

carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Question 3

what is a monomer

Answer 3

small building blocks that make up a larger molecule

Question 4

what is a polymer

Answer 4

long molecule consisting of many building blocks

Question 5

what is carbohydrates

Answer 5

carbon and water CH2O
includes sugar and polymers of sugar
serves as energy

Question 6

what are monosaccharides

Answer 6

molecules that have molecular formulas that are multiples of CH2O

• such as glucose
• they serve as major fuel for cells and raw material for building blocks

Question 7

what are structural isomers and examples of them

Answer 7

same molecular formula but different structure: such as glucose and fructose

Question 8

what shape do sugars usually take in aqueous solutions

Answer 8

rings

Question 9

what is dehydration synthesis

Answer 9

process in which two monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule
(see notes for diagram of just remember it you fuck)

Question 10

what is hydrolysis

Answer 10

opposite of dehydration synthesis in which a water is needed to hydrate the polymer to separate the monomers

Question 11

what is disaccharide

Answer 11

two monosaccharides formed from dehydration

Question 12

what is the covalent bond called in the disaccharide

Answer 12

glycosidic linkage/bond

Question 13

what is polysaccharide

Answer 13

polymer of sugars

Question 14

what is the function of starch and what is the simplest form of it

Answer 14

they are the storage polysaccharide of plants and consist of entirely glucose monomers
- simplest form is amylose

Question 15

what is the function of glycogen

Answer 15

they are the storage polysaccharide in animals

- they usually store glycogen in the liver and muscle cells

Question 16

what is cellulose

Answer 16

a polysaccharide that is a major component in the tough walls of plant cells
- polymer of glucose similar to starch but the glycosidic bonds differ

Question 17

are lipids true polymers and why

Answer 17

no cuz they dont form from monomers

Question 18

define hydrophobic

Answer 18

do not like water/repel it. they consist of mostly hydrocarbons which from nonpolar covalent bonds which is the opposite of the polar water molecules.
- remember like attracts like

Question 19

major function of fats?

Answer 19

store energy

Question 20

what two types of smaller molecules make up fats and define them

Answer 20

glycerol - three carbon alcohol with hydroxyl group attached to each carbon

fatty acid - consists of carboxyl group attached to a long carbon skeleton/chain

Question 21

define the types of fatty acids

Answer 21

saturated - usually animal fat/red meat. they are solid at room temp and usually causes blood clots if too much. single bond

unsaturated - usually plant fat/fish fat. they are liquid at room temp and usually want more of these. double bond

Question 22

what are phospholipids. explain

Answer 22

two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to glycerol.

• hydrophobic tail and a hydrophilic head
• self assembles into a bilayer
• found in cell membrane and are semi-permeable

Question 23

what is amphipathic

Answer 23

both hydrophilic and hydrophobic

Question 24

what are steroids

Answer 24

lipids what are characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of 4 fused rings

Question 25

what is cholesterol

Answer 25

important steroid in animal cell membranes

Question 26

proteins make up more than 50% of the dry mass in most cells

Answer 26

truuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

Question 27

what are amino acids? explain

Answer 27

• amino acids are the monomers of proteins
• they are organic molecules made from carboxyl and amino groups
• differ in properties due to the R groups
• NCC backbone

Question 28

what are polypeptides? explain

Answer 28

• polymer of proteins/amino acids

- amino acids linked by peptide bonds through the process of dehydration synthesis

Question 29

important to note

Answer 29

• once a polypeptide is in its shape/folded, it is then considered a protein
• shape determines function

Question 30

what are functional proteins

Answer 30

they consist of one or more polypeptides that are precisely twisted, folded and coiled into specific shapes

Question 31

what is the primary structure of a protein

Answer 31

the unique sequence of amino acids

Question 32

what is the secondary structure of proteins

Answer 32

found in most proteins, they consist of coils and folds in the polypeptide chain

Question 33

what is the tertiary structure of proteins

Answer 33

depends on the R group

Question 34

what is the quaternary structure of proteins

Answer 34

results from interactions between multiple polypeptide chains (if more than one protein together)

Question 35

what are genes? explain

Answer 35

unit of inheritance that programs the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide
- they are made up of DNA

Question 36

what are the two types of nucleic acids and explain each

Answer 36

DNA - the full code of everything
- provides direction for its own replication
- directs synthesis of messenger RNA, and
through mRNA, controls protein synthesis
- 4 bases: ATCG
RNA - a small copy of the code
- 4 bases: AUCG

Question 37

what are nucleotides

Answer 37

monomers of the polynucleotide DNA and RNA

- each consists of a phosphate group with a pentose sugar with a nitrogenouse base

Question 38

what can affect the structure of a protein

Answer 38

ph, temp, salt conc, other environmental factors

Question 39

what is it called when a protein loses their native structure

Answer 39

denaturation.

they are biologically inactive