Macromolecules Flashcards
Monomer
smallest repeating unit of a polymer
Polymer
large molecule composed of repeating units of smaller molecules (monomers) covalently linked
Macromolecule
large/complex molecule, usually composed of repeating units of polymers covalently linked together
Carbohydrate
macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
General formula for carbs
(CH2O)n
Monosaccharide
simple sugar, carbohydrate with 3-7 carbon atoms, single carbon-based monomer structure
Glucose
blood sugar
Fructose
fruit sugar
Galactose
milk sugar
Molecular formula of glucose, fructose and galactose
C6H12O6
Isomer
molecules with the same number and type of atoms but different structural arrangements
Disaccharide
carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides covalently bonded (glycosidic linkage)
Sucrose
common table sugar
Is sucrose a monosaccharide or disaccharide?
disaccharide, composed of glucose bonded with fructose
Galactose bonded with glucose form what disaccharide?
Lactose
Polysaccharide
carb polymer composed of many monosaccharides joined by covalent bonds between particular atoms
Polymers of glucose, common polysaccharides
starch, glycogen, and cellulose
Functions of carbohydrates
short-term energy storage and structural molecules
Lipids
macromolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, with high proportion of non-polar carbon-hydrogen bonds
What causes lipids to be hydrophobic (not soluble in water)?
lipids have fewer oxygen atoms and greater proportion of carbon and hydrogen bonds
Functions of lipids
long-term energy storage and structural molecules
Triglyceride
lipid molecule composed of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acids linked by ester bonds
Fatty acid
hydrocarbon chain ending in a carboxyl group
Saturated fatty acid
no double bonds between carbon atoms
Unsaturated fatty acid
one or more double bonds between carbon atoms
Why must humans include polyunsaturated fatty acids in their diet?
Because they cannot synthesize them
What happens to the three-dimensional shape of a triglyceride when there is a double bond in the hydrocarbon chains?
The double bond causes a bend in the chain, therefore changing the shape and the way the lipid performs
Phospholipid
lipid composed of a glycerol molecule bonded to two fatty acids and a phosphate group with an R group
Lipid
structure with hydrophilic heads of phospholipids directed toward the aqueous environment and hydrophobic tails directed towards the centre, to each other
R group
group of atoms that varies in composition, defines the type of phospholipid
Steroid
lipid composed of four attached carbon-based rings
Wax
lipids composed of long carbon-based chains that are solids at room temperature
Protein
macromolecule composed of amino acid monomers bonded covalently
Amino Acid
organic molecule composed of a central carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group
Functions of proteins
- catalyzing reactions
- structural support
- transporting substances in the body
- enabling organisms to move
- regulating cellular processes
- providing defence from disease
Polypeptide
polymer composed of many amino acids bonded covalently
Nucleic acid
macromolecules composed of nucleotide monomers
DNA
macromolecule composed of nucleotides containing the sugar deoxyribose
RNA
macromolecule composed of nucleotides containing the sugar ribose
Nucleotide
organic molecule composed of a sugar bonded to a phosphate group and nitrogen-containing base
Polymer of nucleotides
strand of DNA/RNA
Types of protein structures
primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures
Functions of nucleic acids
- stores hereditary information of the cells
- plays a central role in the synthesis of proteins