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?