Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Biochemical Process of Life > Macromolecules > Flashcards

Macromolecules Flashcards

1
Q

What are the functional groups in carbohydrates?

A

Hydroxyl (Alcohol)
Carbonyl
- Aldehydes
- Ketones
Acetyl group (Looks like an ether)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Aldoses contain what monosaccharide(s)

A

Glucose and galactose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ketoses contain what monosaccharide(s)?

A

Fructose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are hexose sugars?

A

They’re 6 carbon rings that form the monomer subunits (monosaccharides) that are used to build more complex sugars

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is a monosaccharide?

A

A monomer subunit of carbohydrates. They contain hydroxyl and carbonyl groups, making them soluble in water.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is glucose used for in the body?

A

They’re used as energy for cells, and are broken down during cellular respiration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Whats the difference between a-glucose and b-glucose?

A

a-glucose has a hydrogen above the ring, while b-glucose has a hydroxide above the ring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is glucose stored as?

A

Glycogen in animals, starch in plants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What are the hexose sugars and pentose sugar?

A

Hexose: Glucose, galactose
Pentose: Fructose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What bonds do carbohydrates participate in and what functional groups do they form?

A

Bond: Glycosidic bond
Functional group: Ether (R-O-R)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What a-glucose bond forms chains, and which one forms branches?

A

a 1-4 = chains
a 1-6 = branches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What glycosidic bonds are commonly found in starch and glycogen?

A

a 1-4
a 1-6

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

b 1-4 bonds are found in which polysaccharides?

A

Cellulose and chitin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What glycosidic bonds form the 3 common disaccharides?

A

Maltose = 2 a-glucose molecules linked via 1-4 bond

Sucrose = 1 a-glucose molecule, 1 fructose molecule linked via 1-5 bond

Lactose 1 b-glucose molecule, 1 galactose molecule linked via 1-4 bond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the function of oligosaccharides?

A

Immune response
Cell recognition
- Glycolipids
- Glycoproteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is the function of polysaccharides and which common polysaccharide supports that function?

A

Energy storage = Glycogen and starch
Structural support = Cellulose and chitin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What protein is found at the center of glycogen, that assists with glycogen synthesis?

A

Glycogenin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Is glycogen used as energy storage in plants or animals?

A

Animals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What two things are starch composed of?

A

Amylopectin: a-glucose branched chains (a 1-6)
Amylose: a-glucose straight chains (a 1-4)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Is cellulose a straight or branched chain polymer?

A

Straight chain because of b 1-4 bond

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What group does chitin contain that seperates it from the other polysaccharides?

A

Chitin contains a nitrogen group on carbon 2 (n-acetyl group)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What are the function of lipids?

A

Most to least important:
Cell structure (membranes)
Energy storage
Insulation
Waterproofing (waxes)
Hormone and vitamin production

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What functional group do fatty acids contain?

A

Carboxyl groups (Carboxylic acid)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What function group does glycerol contain?

A

Hydroxyl groups (Alcohol)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
Saturated fatty acids contain only single carbon bonds, with the maximum number of hydrogen atoms bonded. Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double carbon bonds.
25
What is the difference between monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids?
Monounsaturated: One double bond Polyunsaturated: More than one double bond
26
What's the difference between cis fatty acids and trans fatty acids?
They're both unsaturated fatty acids. Cis fatty acids have a double bonded carbon with hydrogens on the same side, causing the molecule to bend. They are naturally occuring. Trans fatty acids have a double bonded carbon with hydrogens on opposite sides of the molecule. This results in a relatively straight chain. They don't occur naturally often.
27
True or false, glycerols are polar and hydrophilic.
True
28
What is the structure of glycerol?
Glycerol is a 3 carbon alcohol. Each carbon has a hydroxyl group attached on one end.
29
What type of linkage does lipids form, and what is the process called?
Ester linkages Esterification
30
What is the structure and function of triglycerides?
Structure: 3 fatty acids connected to a glycerol. Function: Energy storage and insulation
31
What is the structure and function of phospholipids?
Structure: 2 fatty acid chains, 1 phosphate group linked to a glycerol. Head = Polar, hydrophilic Tail = Nonpolar, hydrophobic Function: Forms cell membrane and membranes within the cell
32
What is the structure and function of steroids?
Structure: 4 carbon rings, not made of fatty acids or glycerol Function: Form hormone, induces cell response to environment, and causes the growth of organisms
33
What type of lipid is cholesterol and what is it's function?
Cholesterol is a steroid and is necessary to maintain membrane fluidity.
34
What is the stucture and function of waxes?
Structure: Long chains of fatty acids linked to alcohol or carbon rings. Very hydrophobic Function: Used as water proofing and protection for leaves, fruits, bird wings, etc
35
How does the ring structure of galactose differ from glucose?
It contains a hydroxyl group above the ring on the left side instead of a hydrogen (flips left side).
36
Function of globular and fibrous proteins?
Fibrous: Structural cell support, contractile Globular: Enzymes, hormones, transport, protective, functional, etc
37
Functional groups of proteins
Amines Carboxylic acid/ carboxy
38
What are the potential different properties of amino acids?
Polar/ nonpolar Charged/ uncharged Acids/ bases
39
How many essential amino acids are there?
9
40
What are the bonds that form proteins and what linkage does it make?
Bonds: Peptide bonds Linkage: Amide
41
What are the two terminals on a polypeptide/ amino acid chain?
N-terminal - the end with the amide (-NH) group C-terminal - the end with the carboxylic (-COOH) group
42
Which terminal are amino acids added to on a peptide strand?
C-terminal (-COOH end)
43
What interactions occur within a polypeptide that causes it to start folding?
Polar sections become attracted to one another Sulfur containing sections will form disulfide bridges
44
What is the primary structure of a protein?
The unique linear sequence of amino acids that make up the protein, no folding had begun
45
What is the secondary structure of a protein?
Folding begins, fold into intial patterns and contribute to the base shape of the protein. This results because of hydrogen bonding between amino acids
46
What are the two common secondary structures?
a-helix: spirals, similar to string or ribbon. Helps create filamentous sections that assist with protein function. b-pleated sheets: side to side alightment of amino acid chain, zig-zag shape. Helps strengthen the overall protein shape.
47
What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
The overall three dimension shape. All the interactions between amino acid side chains will result in distinct shape. This happens through intermolecular reactions like ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic interactions, disulfide bridges.
48
What is the quaternary structure of proteins?
Two or more polypeptides come together to form the final functional protein. Same interactions in tertiary structure of peptide chain can also interact with different units to hold together the quaternary structure. Such as hemoglobin or prosthetic groups.
49
What are prosthetic groups in peptide chains?
Additional non-protein components that assist in structure or function (ex: iron in hemoglobin)
50
What are the specialized proteins that assists with folding of peptide chains?
Chaperone proteins.
51
What is denaturation?
The loss of both structure and function of a protein. This results in a change in form as well as properties.
52
What is the function of nucleic acids?
Store genetic information. Used as a code for protein transcription and translation - aka, determines the sequences of amino acids in proteins.
53
What is the structure of nucleotides?
1. 5 carbon ring sugar (pentose) 2. 1-3 phosphate groups 3. a nitrogenous base (rings of carbon and nitrogen)
54
What are the single organic rings in the nitrogenous base: pyrimidines?
Thymine (only in DNA), Cytosine, Uracil (only in RNA)
55
What are the two ringed organic structures in the nitrogenous base: Purines?
Adenine, Guanine
56
What is ATP?
Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) does NOT store genetic information. It is used as the energy currency of the cell.
57
What is the structure of ATP?
Adenine (base) Ribose (sugar) Three phosphate groups
58
What are the two relevant functional groups in nucleotides?
Hydroxyl Phosphate
59
What are the bonds that nucleic acids participate in?
Phosphodiester bonds
60
In a phosphodiester bond, which functional groups are on which carbons?
Hydroxyl on carbon 3 Phosphate on carbon 5
61
On nucleic acids, what end are new nucleotides added to the sequence?
They're added to the carbon 3 end (3' end)
62
What are the two types of RNA?
Messenger RNA (mRNA) - Transcribed from genes in DNA and is used to build proteins Transfer RNA (tRNA) - Used with ribosomes to construct the growing polypeptide
63
What is the RNA world hypothesis?
RNA was the original biomolecule due to it's enzymatic (ribozymes) and hereditary nature

Biochemical Process of Life (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions