Macromolecules Flashcards
What are the four main types of macromolecules?
Proteins, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic Acids
These macromolecules are essential for various biological functions.
What are monosaccharides? Give three examples.
Simple sugars used as energy sources within cells. Examples:
* glucose
* fructose
* galactose
Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates.
What are disaccharides?
Consist of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic bond.
Examples include maltose, lactose, and sucrose.
What is maltose composed of?
Glucose-glucose
Maltose is found in seeds.
What is lactose composed of?
Glucose-galactose
Lactose is commonly known as milk sugar.
What is sucrose composed of?
Glucose-fructose
Sucrose is commonly referred to as table sugar.
What are polysaccharides?
Consist of more than two monosaccharides bonded together by glycosidic bonds.
Examples include glycogen, starch, and cellulose.
What is glycogen?
A highly branched polysaccharide found in animals.
Glycogen serves as a form of energy storage.
What is starch?
A key storage polysaccharide in plants.
Starch is primarily used by plants to store energy.
What is cellulose?
A structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.
Cellulose provides rigidity and strength to plant structures.
What is Benedict’s solution used to test for?
Simple sugars (monosaccharides or disaccharides)
It requires heating to function properly.
What does a blue result indicate in Benedict’s test?
Negative test for simple sugars.
This indicates the absence of reducing sugars.
What does a yellow/orange/brick red result indicate in Benedict’s test?
Positive test for simple sugars.
This indicates the presence of reducing sugars.
What does Lugol’s Iodine (IKI) test for?
Polysaccharide starch
This test helps identify the presence of starch in a sample.
What does a yellow-brown result indicate in the Lugol’s Iodine test?
Negative test for starch.
This indicates the absence of starch.
What does a lavender/blue/black result indicate in the Lugol’s Iodine test?
Positive test for starch.
This indicates the presence of starch.
What are lipids characterized by?
Insoluble in water (hydrophobic)
Lipids include fats, oils, steroids, and waxes.
What are fats and oils known for?
High-energy compounds containing twice the energy per gram as carbohydrates.
They serve as primary energy storage molecules in animals.
What does the paper test for lipids indicate with no stain?
Negative test for lipids.
This means the sample does not contain lipids.
What does the paper test for lipids indicate with a stain?
Positive test for lipids.
This means the sample contains lipids.
What are proteins composed of?
Individual subunits called amino acids.
Proteins are complex organic molecules.
What is the Biuret test used to detect?
Proteins
The test detects peptide bonds between amino acids.
What does a blue result indicate in the Biuret test?
Negative test for proteins.
This indicates the absence of proteins.
What does a light to dark purple result indicate in the Biuret test?
Positive test for proteins.
This indicates the presence of proteins.
What does the Biuret reagent react with?
The peptide bonds between the amino acids.
It does not react with free amino acids.
Fill in the blank: Benedict’s solution tests for _______.
simple carbohydrates
This solution is commonly used in carbohydrate testing.
Fill in the blank: IKI solution tests for _______.
complex carbohydrates
This solution is used to identify starch.
Fill in the blank: Biuret solution tests for _______.
protein
This solution helps detect the presence of proteins.
Fill in the blank: A positive test for lipids shows an _______ stain on paper.
oil
This indicates the presence of lipids in the sample.
