Macromolecules 2023 Flashcards
Carbohydrates contain the elements ___, _____, and ____, in a ratio of:
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen. 1:2:1
What are the functions of carbohydrates?
Easy access energy (ex. glucose), can provide structure (ex. cellulose).
What are the 3 popular monosaccharides + disaccharides?
Glucose, fructose, galactose. Maltose, sucrose, lactose.
Practice drawing a glucose molecules. What is the difference in structure between glucose and fructose?
Glucose is a hexo-sugar, fructose is a pento-sugar.
Describe amylopectin.
Amylopectin is found in potatoes + starches, and has complex storage. It is made of 20-30 branches of glucose chains and has A 1,4 and A 1,6 glycosidic links (bonds).
Describe amylose.
Simple storage of carbs, found in wheat, pasta, etc. 100s of glucose chains ONLY in A 1,4 chains.
Describe cellulose.
Structural polysaccharide that cannot be digested by humans. Found in cells walls, made of B 1,4 glycosidic links.
Describe glycogen.
Serves as glucose storage in animals. A glucose chains, long branches. Found in liver, brain, and muscles.
Describe chitin.
Makes up the exoskeleton of insects and crustaceans. It is a modified glucose monomer.
What are fatty acids?
Fatty acids are the “monomers” of lipids. As HC chain increases, the more NP/hydrophobic a fatty acid becomes. Made of HC chain, carbonyl, and hydroxyl.
What is the difference between cis/trans isomers?
Cis isomers have a mirror-like appearance, trans isomers do not.
What are the functions of lipids?
Long term energy storage (2x the energy storage as glucose), insulation, protection.
What is the structure and function of a triglyceride?
1 glycerol, 3 fatty acids makes 1 triglyceride and 3 water. Long term storage of energy, fat insulation, doesn’t affect water content in cells.
What is an ester linkage?
Bond between oxygen molecules of a glycerol and hydroxyl molecules of a fatty acid.
What is the function and structure of a phospholipid?
Hydrophilic head made of phosphate and glycerol, hydrophobic tail made of fatty acids. Makes up cell membrane to control transport in cell.
Describe waxes.
Waxes are long HC chains, often linked to alcohols/carbon rings. Very NP, hydrophobic, soft solids at SATP. Used by plants to prevent water loss, used by animals to protect.
Describe steroids.
Four-ring structure, making them insoluble in water. Used as hormones + neurotransmitters (ex. testosterone, cortisol, cholesterol, etc.).
What are glycolipids and lipoproteins?
Glycolipids are lipids attached to glucose (found in brain). Lipoproteins are lipid attached to proteins that carry other lipids (ex. cholesterol) through blood.
What is the structure and function of DNA?
Double helix (double-stranded). Has base pairs, long molecules. DNA contains genetic information, passed onto offspring, controls cell’s activity.
What is a phosphodiester bond?
Link between a phosphate + hydroxyl group which joins nucleotides together.
What is the structure and function of RNA?
Usually single-stranded, contains uracil instead of thymine, shorter + broken down faster than DNA. Important in protein synthesis, various functions.
Differentiate tRNA, mRNA, rRNA.
tRNA - transfer RNA which carries amino acids.
mRNA - messenger RNA used to build proteins.
rRNA - ribosomal RNA makes up part of ribosomes.
Name the three functions of DNA/RNA.
Energy carrier molecule, cofactors in reactions, internal cell signaling.
What are nucleic acids? What are their monomers?
Nucleic acids act to code information. Two types are DNA/RNA, their monomers are nucleotides.
