Macromolecules Flashcards
although cells are 70% - 95% water, the rest consists of __________ __________
carbon-based compounds
4 major groups of macromolecules
proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, & lipids
a large organic molecule that comprises a large fraction of the mass of any cell
macromolecules
most macromolecules are _______
polymers
the subunit of a polymer
monomer
a large molecule consisting of many identical or similar monomers linked together
polymer
chemical reactions linking 2 or more small molecules to form a larger molecule with repeating structural units
polymer formation (polymerization)
chemical reactions breaking a larger molecule into its repeating structural units
polymer breakdown
hydrolysis & dehydration reactions are catalyzed by _______
enzymes
a reaction in which 2 molecules become covalently bound to one another through the loss of a water molecule
dehydration/condensation reaction
a reaction in which the bonds between monomers are broken by the addition of a water molecule
hydrolysis
diverse in character or content
heterogeneous
nucleic acids are ____________________
polynucleotides
2 types of nucleic acids
DNA & RNA
makes up genes; copied & passed through generations
DNA
carries info from DNA to cytoplasm; functions in protein synthesis
RNA
monomers of carbohydrates; simple sugars
monosaccharides
the 2 sugar monomers linked together via a covalent glycoside bonds; form of sugar in foods
disaccharides
polymers of sugar; energy storage & support
polysaccharides
fatty or waxy organic compounds that are soluble in nonpolar solvents but not polar solvents
lipids
contains 3 OH groups
glycerol
nonpolar hydrocarbons with polar carboxyl groups that form covalent bonds with the hydroxyls of glycerol
fatty acid
fats are ______ in water due to many C-H bonds and fewer polar bonds
insoluble
________ store fat
adipocytes
fat functions include:
storage, insulation, cushioning
both hydrophobic and hydrophilic simultaneously
amphipathic
_______ are lipids that have 4 fused carbon rings w/ various functional groups attached
steroids
a macromolecule that consists of one or more polypeptide chains folded into a specific 3D shape
protein
a polymer of amino acid monomers arranged in a specific sequence linked by peptide bonds
polypeptide
a covalent bond formed by a condensation reaction that links the carboxyl group of one amino acid to the amino group of another amino acid
peptide bond
secondary structure of a polypeptide that is folded into a helical coil
alpha helix
secondary structure that consists of 2 polypeptide chains lying side-by-side forming a sheet-like structure
beta sheet
the building block of a protein
amino acid
loss of 3D structure & function of a protein
denaturation
which term describes the cellular process of breaking down polymers to monomers?
hydrolysis
_________ fatty acids are the simplest form of fats that are unbranched linear chains, while ________ fatty acids are more complex with bent hydrocarbon chains
saturated; unsaturated
which bonds are formed during the formation of the primary structure of a protein
covalent peptide bonds between amino acids
the more membrane fluidity, the _____ the number of double bonds in phospholipid fatty acid tails
higher
