Macromolecules

Question 1

What are macromolecules? ( monomers and polymers)

Answer 1

Macromolecules are polymers; large macromolecules made up of smaller molecules called monomers.

The monomers are covalently bonded to form polymers.

Question 2

Can polymers be synthesized or break down ?

Answer 2

They can be be synthesized or broken up in the cells of living things.

Dehydration synthesis = assembly
Hydrolysis = disassembly

Question 3

How dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis work

Answer 3

One molecule of water is removed

Involves two monomers
- one looses an hydroxyl group
- and the other loses hydrogen

Hydrolysis is the reverse process.

Question 4

Why the disassembling of polymers

Answer 4

• digestion
• providing molecules that can enter the cell

Question 5

What are the four mahout classes of biological macromolecules

Answer 5

• Carbohydrates
• lipids
• proteins
• nucleic acid

Question 6

What are carbohydrates and their primary role

Answer 6

Molecules that contain C,H and O in a 1:2: 1 ratio

Primary role is for energy storage

Question 7

What are carbohydrates monosaccharides?

Answer 7

The simplest carbohydrates know as sugars

Can contain either 3,5 or 6 carbons

Examples of 6 carbon sugars
- glucose
- fructose
- galactose

Question 8

What is the most important carbohydrate monosaccharide

Answer 8

Glucose - most important monos. For energy storage

Question 9

What are disaccharides + associated covalent bond

Answer 9

Double sugar : consists of 2 monosaccharides

Covalent Bond name : glycosidic linkage

Ex: sucrose =glucose + fructose
Lactose= glucose + galactose

Question 10

What are polysaccharides

Answer 10

From a few 100 to thousands of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration synthesis

Question 11

What are the long term storage polysaccharide for plant and animals

Answer 11

Plants : starches
Starches can be divided in two types
Amylose (simple) and amylopectin ( more complex)

Animal : glycogen

Question 12

What are the structural polysaccharides

Answer 12

Plant : cellulose (can be digested)
Some Animal and fungi : chitin
Bacterial cell wall:: peptidoglycan

Question 13

What are lipids and different categories

Answer 13

High portion of H-C bond

Neutral fats
Phospholipids
Steroids
Terpenes
Waxes

Question 14

Neutral fats (functions and what do they consist of )

Answer 14

Energy storage: too much glucose stored for a long time converts to fat

Insulation/ nerve systems

Protection of internal organs

Constitution :
1 molecule of glycerol + 1-3 molecule of fatty acids

Number ranges from (1-3) depending on the number of molecules of fatty acid

1- monoglyceride
2- diglyceride
3- triglyceride

Question 15

How is called the covalent bonds of neutral fats

Answer 15

Ester linkage

Question 16

Types of neutral fats

Answer 16

Satturated fatty acid
- no double bond

Unsaturated fatty acid
One or more double bond

Question 17

What are Phospholipids

Answer 17

The major constituant of the cell membrane

Is similar to neutral fats but has 1 phosphate molecule and 2 molecules of fatty acids

Question 18

Upon contact with water what do phospholipids form ( 2 choices )

Answer 18

• Lipid bilayers (basis of biological membranes )
• lipid micelles

Question 19

How do phospholipid bilayers form

Answer 19

When two sheets of phospholipid molecule align. They form spontaneously. With no outside energy required

Question 20

Steroids

Answer 20

Are hormones:

Ex: testostérone
Estrogen
Progesterone

They have a side branch in their molecular composition

Question 21

What are the two main kinds of nucleic acids and their function

+ name of their monomers and composition

Answer 21

Deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA)

Ribose nucleic acid (RNA)

Function: storage and transfer of genetic info

Monomers name : nucleotides
Made up of:
Phosphate group
5-carbon sugar
Nitrogenous base

Question 22

How do nucleic acids polymers form

Answer 22

The phosphate group of one nucleotide binds to the hydroxyl group from another releasing water and forming a phosphodiester bond.

Question 23

Types of nitrogenous bases and differences

Answer 23

• Pyrimidines : 1 carbon nitrogen ring
• purines : have two carbon-nitrogen ring bases

Question 24

Compare RNA and DNA nucleotides

Answer 24

DNA is genetic information (double helix )

Phosphate group
Sugar: deoxyribose
Nitrogenous bases
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Thymine (T)

RNA synthesises proteins (single strand )

Phosphate group
Sugar: deoxyribose
Nitrogenous bases
Adenine (A)
Guanine (G)
Cytosine (C)
Uracil (U)

Question 25

What are complementary bases

Answer 25

In a double strand of DNA

A and T
C and G
Always line up together

Question 26

What are Proteins and their functions
What is the associated bond

Answer 26

Proteins are polymers made up of amino acids

Covalent bond = peptide bonds

-Enzyme catalyst
-Défense
-Transport
- support
-motion
- Regulation
- storage

Question 27

What is dipeptide

Answer 27

Two amino acids

Question 28

What are the four levels of protein structure

Answer 28

The four levels of protein structure are:

1. Primary Structure: The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, held together by peptide bonds.
2. Secondary Structure: The folding or coiling of the polypeptide into regular patterns, such as alpha helices or beta sheets, stabilized by hydrogen bonds between backbone atoms.
3. Tertiary Structure: The overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, formed by interactions among side chains (R groups) including hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bridges.
4. Quaternary Structure: The structure formed when two or more polypeptide chains (subunits) come together to form a functional protein, often stabilized by the same types of interactions seen in the tertiary structure.

Question 29

What is the central dogma of biology

Answer 29

(DNA ) to RNA: transcription

RNA to protein = translation

Information stored in DNA is transferred to RNA which in turn transfers the information to protein