Macromolecules Flashcards
What is the basic composition of carbohydrates?
They are composed of (CH2O)n
What is a way of quickly identifying carbohydrates in nomenclature?
They end by “-ose”
What are sources of carbohydrates?
Vegetables, plants, bread, pasta
What macromolecules are composed of nucleotides?
Nucleic acids
What macromolecules are composed of amino acids?
Proteins
What macromolecules can be synthesized by the human body?
Proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids
What macromolecules can be used as fuel, a source of energy?
Lipids (long-term use), carbohydrates (short-term when high intensity like sports… they are super easy to break down) and proteins (last resort)
What macromolecules can be used as hormones?
Lipids, proteins
What macromolecules can provide structure?
Proteins and carbohydrates
Give an example of proteins that provide structure
Microtubules, spindle fibers (cohesin proteins)
Give an example of carbohydrates that provide structure
Chitin in the external skeleton of insects or cellulose in the cell walls of plants
What macromolecules contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen?
Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and nucleic acid (all organic molecules, by definition contain that). The difference in their function is made by the bonds between the atoms.
What are 3 functions of carbohydrates?
Provide energy, (when in chains) form structures like cellulose and texture for the immune system
What are monosaccharides?
They are carbohydrates that are not polymerized. They are simple sugars.
Give examples of monosaccharides.
Glucose, fructose, galactose
How do carbohydrates provide energy?
Through respiration, glucose help produce ATP to provide energy.
What are disaccharides?
They are carbohydrates that are two monosaccharides put together in a polymer. The monosaccharides are linked together through glycosidic bonds.
Give examples of disaccharides.
Maltose (2 glucose), Lactose (Galactose-glucose) and sucrose (glucose-fructose)
What are polysaccharides?
They are a branch of many monosaccharides. (3+)
Give examples of polysaccharides.
Starch (plants store glucose like this), glycogen, cellulose, chitin
To what macromolecule are we referring? “Bacterial cell walls have cross-linked chains of peptidoglycan”
Proteins
Why are lipids used in cell membranes?
They are generally non-polar molecules. Thus, they are insoluble in water
What is the general polarity of lipids?
Non-polar (so they are hydrophobic)
What is the composition of lipids?
They are hydrocarbons, made of either isoprene or fatty acids?
What are sources of lipids?
Lean meat, avocado, eggs (omega-3), dairy products
What macromolecules can be used for long-term energy storage?
Lipids
How can lipids provide structure?
They are constituents of cell membranes and provide insulation from environment. They are also the building blocks of hormones.
What macromolecules compose hormones?
Proteins and lipids
What macromolecules can dissolve vitamins?
Lipids
What are fatty acids? How are functions of fatty acids affected?
They are lipids (hydrocarbons) composed of a 4-36 (generally 12-18) hydrogen-carbon chain to which a carboxyl group is attached. The arrangement of those components determine the function of the fatty acid.
How can fatty acids be saturated or unsaturated?
They are saturated if there is no double bond between the carbon atoms so that every bond is linked to 1 hydrogen. If there is a double-carbon bond, one hydrogen can still be accepted so it is unsaturated.
What are triglycerides?
They are lipids composed of 3 fatty acids linked together with a chain of glycerol (3 C 5 H 3 O). The links are called ester bonds.
Why are omega-3 important to include in one’s alimentation?
This lipid cannot be produced by the human body.
What are phospholipids?
They are lipids present in the plasma membrane of cells. They are composed of 2 fatty acids and 1 phosphate group, which makes the molecule amphipathic (one side likes water and the other one does not). Linked w/ glycerol.
What is the difference between trans and cis fats?
The trans fats have hydrogen at the center of the molecule positioned in two planned so that the molecule can more easily get stuck somewhere. Cis fats can pass easily everywhere without getting stuck.
What are steroids?
They are lipids formed of 4 carbon rings and a tail. They also have a hydroxide group sometimes.
What are examples of lipids?
cholesterol, testosterone (hormone), estradiol, omega-3.
Which macromolecule studied in class is not considered a macromolecule?
Lipids
What is the most diverse group for the functions?
Proteins
What is the composition of proteins?
They are amino acids polymers arranged in a linear sequence. There is a side chain that can be many things and a carboxyl group. The shapes vary such that it defines their function
What are the functions of proteins?
They are diverse: hormones, organic catalysts, carry substances, coordinate system, protect body, provide nourishment for the baby, transport, defense, storage, structural
What can proteins be?
They can be hormones or enzymes.
What three types of enzymes can proteins be?
They can be anabolic, catabolic or catalytic
Give examples of enzymes (proteins).
Amylase, pepsin, lipase
Give examples of hormones that are proteins.
Insulin, thyroxine
How are proteins created and why?
Specific genes code for proteins that through RNA are produced in the ribosomes of a cell. Each protein has a very specific function. It can be a specific checkpoint in cell division or an hormone related with some emotions.
How can proteins be polymers?
They are chains of amino acids linked through peptide bonds between a carboxyl group and the other acid’s amino group. It allows sequence of acids to change and arrange the function. If there is more than one peptide bond, we will call this a polypeptide.
What helps protein folding?
Chaperons.
What macromolecule is the most important for continuity of life?
Nucleic acids: they act as our genetic blueprint
What are nucleic acids?
They are comprised of nucleotides that combine in polynucleotides to form either RNA or DNA. (ribonucleic acid or deoxyribonucleic)
What is a nucleotide?
It is a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar (5C) and a phosphate group. The nitrogenous bases are organic and can bind with one hydrogen.
What nitrogenous bases are purine?
Adenine and guanine
What nitrogenous bases are pyrimidines?
Thymine (DNA), Cytosine, Uracil (RNA)
What is the function of DNA?
It is the genetic material of all living organisms. The program.
What is the function of RNA?
It serves for protein synthesis and regulation.
What are the 4 types of RNA?
Messenger (from DNA), ribosomal(constitute ribosome), transfer (carries amino acids to synthesis site), micro (regulate gene expression)
What is a difference between RNA and DNA in appearance?
RNA is only ss while DNA can be either ss or ds.
What is a marcomolecule?
A BIG molecule formed of little subunits
How do you call the process by many monomers, subunits of macromolecules, bind together?
Polymerization
What reaction allows polymerization of macromolecules?
A dehydration reaction
