Macromolecules Flashcards
What is a macromolecule?
A very large molecule important to biological processes, such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and amino acids. They are composed of thousands of bonded atoms.
What is a protein?
A protein is a polymer, meaning it is a larger molecule made of smaller ones. These smaller molecule being amino acids.
What are the roles of proteins?
- They provide structural support through keratin in the hair and nails and collagen in connective tissue.
- They facilitate transport through protein channels and ion pumps.
- They provide immune support through antibodies, as they are proteins.
- They help with hormone regulation.
- Enzymes are proteins which speed up and slow down reactions, as they are biological catalysts.
Explain the structure of an amino acid.
H H O - H
\ l /
N - C - C
/ I \
H R O
- ‘H’ is the ‘H group’.
- H
\
N is the ‘amino group’.
/
H - O - H is the ‘carboxyl group’.
/
C
O - ‘R’ is the ‘variable group’. This is always different as it indicates what amino acid it is.
What elements are proteins made of?
Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen.
How many types of amino acids are there and what are their roles?
There are 20 types of amino acids in the body and they build proteins as they are monomers of proteins.
What is a primary protein structure?
This is a chain of amino acids.
What is a secondary protein structure?
The hydrogen bonding of the peptide backbone causes the amino acid chain to fold into a repeating pattern.
Hydrogen bonds then form on the chain, causing it to coil into an alpha helix or a beta pleated sheet.
This is very strong.
What is a tertiary protein structure?
A three dimensional folding pattern of proteins due to side chain interactions.
This coils further and ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds and disulphide bridges form.
What is a quaternary protein structure?
More than one amino acid chain.
What is a polypeptide formation?
This is a chain of amino acids, joined by peptide bonds. Polypeptides link in a condensation reaction.
What is a condensation reaction?
A condensation reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two molecules are combined to form a single molecule, usually with the loss of a small molecule such as water.
There is 1 less water for every sugar.
Join these two molecules in a condensation reaction.
H R
\ |
N - C - COOH
/ |
H H
H R
\ |
N - C - COOH
/ |
H H
H R
\ |
N - C - CO [OH]
/ |
H H
[OH]+[H]= [H2O]
H R
\ |
N - C - COOH
/ |
[H] H
After the condensation reaction, a peptide bond is formed joining the two molecules.
H R O H R
\ | || | |
N - C - C ——— N - C - COOH
/ | | |
H H Peptide H
bond
What is a lipid?
broad group of organic compounds which include fats, triglycerides and phospholipids. They’re insoluble in water and soluble in non-polar solvents.
What is meant by soluble and insoluble?
Soluble means it easily dissolves in water and breaks down. Insoluble means it does not dissolve in water and does not break down in digestion.
What is a triglyceride?
This is composed of 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol. Each fatty acid forms an ester bond with the glycerol in a condensation reaction. This ester bond can be broken down with lipase.
[GLYCEROL]
| | | —— ESTER BOND
F F F
A A A
How do you break down a triglyceride?
Using lipase.