Macromolecules Flashcards
What are macromolecules? ( monomers and polymers)
Macromolecules are polymers; large macromolecules made up of smaller molecules called monomers.
The monomers are covalently bonded to form polymers.
Can polymers be synthesized or break down ?
They can be be synthesized or broken up in the cells of living things.
Dehydration synthesis = assembly
Hydrolysis = disassembly
How dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis work
One molecule of water is removed
Involves two monomers
- one looses an hydroxyl group
- and the other loses hydrogen
Hydrolysis is the reverse process.
Why the disassembling of polymers
- digestion
- providing molecules that can enter the cell
What are the four mahout classes of biological macromolecules
- Carbohydrates
- lipids
- proteins
- nucleic acid
What are carbohydrates and their primary role
Molecules that contain C,H and O in a 1:2: 1 ratio
Primary role is for energy storage
What are carbohydrates monosaccharides?
The simplest carbohydrates know as sugars
Can contain either 3,5 or 6 carbons
Examples of 6 carbon sugars
- glucose
- fructose
- galactose
What is the most important carbohydrate monosaccharide
Glucose - most important monos. For energy storage
What are disaccharides + associated covalent bond
Double sugar : consists of 2 monosaccharides
Covalent Bond name : glycosidic linkage
Ex: sucrose =glucose + fructose
Lactose= glucose + galactose
What are polysaccharides
From a few 100 to thousands of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration synthesis
What are the long term storage polysaccharide for plant and animals
Plants : starches
Starches can be divided in two types
Amylose (simple) and amylopectin ( more complex)
Animal : glycogen
What are the structural polysaccharides
Plant : cellulose (can be digested)
Some Animal and fungi : chitin
Bacterial cell wall:: peptidoglycan
What are lipids and different categories
High portion of H-C bond
Neutral fats
Phospholipids
Steroids
Terpenes
Waxes
Neutral fats (functions and what do they consist of )
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
How is called the covalent bonds of neutral fats
Ester linkage
Types of neutral fats
Satturated fatty acid
- no double bond
Unsaturated fatty acid
One or more double bond
What are Phospholipids
The major constituant of the cell membrane
Is similar to neutral fats but has 1 phosphate molecule and 2 molecules of fatty acids
Upon contact with water what do phospholipids form ( 2 choices )
- Lipid bilayers (basis of biological membranes )
- lipid micelles
How do phospholipid bilayers form
When two sheets of phospholipid molecule align. They form spontaneously. With no outside energy required
Steroids
Are hormones:
Ex: testostérone
Estrogen
Progesterone
They have a side branch in their molecular composition
What are the two main kinds of nucleic acids and their function
+ name of their monomers and composition
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
How do nucleic acids polymers form
The phosphate group of one nucleotide binds to the hydroxyl group from another releasing water and forming a phosphodiester bond.
Types of nitrogenous bases and differences
- Pyrimidines : 1 carbon nitrogen ring
- purines : have two carbon-nitrogen ring bases
Compare RNA and DNA nucleotides
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)
What are complementary bases
In a double strand of DNA
A and T
C and G
Always line up together
What are Proteins and their functions
What is the associated bond
Proteins are polymers made up of amino acids
Covalent bond = peptide bonds
-Enzyme catalyst
-Défense
-Transport
- support
-motion
- Regulation
- storage
What is dipeptid
Two amino acids
What are the four levels of protein structure
The four levels of protein structure are:
- Primary Structure: The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, held together by peptide bonds.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
What is the central dogma of biology
(DNA ) to RNA: transcription
RNA to protein = translation
Information stored in DNA is transferred to RNA which in turn transfers the information to protein
How are composed most steroids
Most steroids consist of a series of 4 interlocked rings-others are short chains
Which have various numbers, positions and composition of side branche
What are tepenes
Long chain lipids that are composed of many biological pigments (ex: chlorophyll)
Characteristics of waxes
Solid at room temperature
Highly saturated
Waterproof
What are the monomers of nucleic acids
Nucleotides
