Macromolecules Flashcards
Simple molecules that can form larger, more complex molecules.
Give examples of macromolecules.
Amino acids, lipids, sugars
General formula of carbohydrates
Cn(H20)n
Lactose
Disaccharide of Galactose and Beta glucose
Sucrose
Disaccharide of Fructose and Alpha glucose
Maltose
Two Alpha glucose molecules
What is a monosaccharide?
What is the structure normally like?
A chain of carbon, hydroxyl groups, and one carbonyl (C=O) group.
Cyclic structures because of the reaction of the aldehydes/ketones with the hydroxyl group.
What is an aldose?
A monosaccharide that contains an aldehyde on C1
What is a ketose?
A monosaccharide that contains a ketone group that is not on C1
What is D&L isomerism?
Stereoisomers that have a chiral centre and so, there can be another molecule that is a mirror image of the other that cannot be superimposed.
They are normally optically active and able to rotate plane polarised light in opposite directions.
What is a property of D&L monosaccharides?
Which type of monosaccharide is normally found in organisms?
They may have the same chemical properties but differing biological ones.
The D (dexterous)
What is a glycosidic bond?
A bond formed between two monosaccharides by a condensation reaction, between NH or OH groups
What is an O-glycosidic bond?
A glycosidic bond between OH (hydroxyl) groups to form disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides.
What is an N-glycosidic bond?
Glycosidic bonds containing NH, usually found in nucleotides and DNA.
What are oligonucleotides?
Contains 3-12 monosaccharides, bonded together by o-glycosidic bonds.
They are normally a product of digestion of polysaccharides, or part of complex proteins/lipids.
Starch:
What is it?
What is its function?
What is it made of?
- A polysaccharide
- Storage of energy in plants
- Made of amylose (Glucose alpha 1,4) and amylopectin (alpha Glucose 1,4 and alpha glucose 1,6 glycosidic bonds)
