Macromolecules Flashcards
Why are phospholipids different than lipids?
They have 2 fatty acid tails
What does Amphiphilic/amphipathic mean?
Molecules with hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts
Types of lipids?
- Steroids
- Cholesteral
What is the “bad” cholesterol and why?
LDL
It accumulates in the bloodstream due to more fat in them and can cause blockages
What is the “good” cholesterol and why?
HDL
Travels through our blood and helps bring cholesterol to our livers for processing, which removes it from the bloodstream
What do all functional groups depend on?
Proteins
What are functional groups linked by?
Alpha carbons
What are R groups?
Provide each amino acid with specific properties (functional group)
What are proteins?
One or more polypeptides working together
What types of amino acids can we not make and must get from our food?
Essential amino acids
Where do we get most of our amino acids from?
Metabolism
What are polypeptides?
Strings of amino acids
What are amino acids linked by?
Dehydration reactions. The carboxyl group is linked to the amino group via a peptide bond
Describe the ends of a polymer
One end of the polymer starts with an amino group (N-terminus), the other ends with a carboxyl group (C-terminus)
Do the amino and carboxyl groups attached to the alpha carbon in linked amino acids have a charge?
No!
What determines the way a polypeptide folds?
Once amino acids are made, they interact with water in the cytoplasm, as well as each other which causes it to fold
What is the folding of a polypeptide dependent on?
The sequence of the amino acid, interactions of the R groups, and hydrogen bonding
What are the 4 levels of structure of a protein?
1.Primary structure
2.Secondary structure
3.Tertiary structure
4.Quaternary structure
What is a primary structure?
The sequence of the amino acids in the polypeptide chain
What is a tertiary structure?
The 3D shape of a single polypeptide
What is a secondary structure?
The coils and fold of the proteins overall shape
What is a quaternary structure?
The stable, formation of two or more polypeptides
What is the definition of DNA?
Deoxyribonucleic acid: a polymer of nucleotides that stores genetic information
Example of how can changes in primary sequence have big impacts at all levels of structure?
Sickle-cell anemia is caused by a substitution of valine for glutamic acid
Causes deformation of disk shape into a crescent moon
Results in the blood cell unable to bind and carry oxygen
Can also cause clogs in the blood vessels
What is the definition of RNA?
Ribonucleic acid: a polymer of nucleotides that carries the instructions for protein making
What is the definition of ribosomes?
Molecules of protein and rRNA that translates the mRNA strand into specific amino acids which form polypeptides and proteins
Definition of gene expression?
The process of transcribing DNA into RNA and translating that into a protein
What are the monomers of nucleic acids?
Nucleosides- sugar + nitrogenous base
Nucleotides- sugar + carbon base
What are nitrogenous bases?
Rings that have nitrogen atoms and take up H+
ex. Pyrimidine (Cysteine, Thymine, Uracil)
Purine (Adedine, Guanine)
What are the monomers of DNA/RNA
Nucleotides
A always interacts with? How many bonds?
T - 2 H bonds
C always interacts with? How many bonds?
G- 3 H bonds
What is PCR? (polymerase chain reaction)
A technique to amplify thousands of copies of a specific piece of DNA that we’re interested in
What types of coils and folds are there in a secondary structure?
Alpha helix -spiral
Beta pleated- side by side
Loops- parts of the protein that aren’t alpha helix or beta pleated
