Macromolecules/Enzymes Flashcards
What are macromolecules?
Macromolecules are large, complex molecules made up of smaller units (monomers) joined together.
What are the four major types of macromolecules?
Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
What are proteins made of?
Proteins are made of amino acids, which are linked by peptide bonds to form polypeptides. There are 20 different amino acids, and their sequence determines the protein’s structure and function.
What are lipids made of?
Lipids are made of glycerol and fatty acids. They are hydrophobic molecules and include fats, oils, phospholipids, and steroids.
What are nucleic acids made of?
Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are made of nucleotides, which consist of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
What is the function of carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates provide energy (e.g., glucose)
What is the function of proteins?
Proteins serve as enzymes, structural components, transport molecules, and play roles in immune response
What is the function of lipids?
Lipids store energy, insulate the body, protect organs, and form cell membranes (phospholipids).
What is the function of nucleic acids?
Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information. DNA contains genetic instructions for development and function, while RNA helps in protein synthesis.
What are enzymes?
Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. They are typically proteins.
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The active site is the region on the enzyme where the substrate binds. The enzyme’s shape is specific to the substrate it binds with.
What is a substrate?
A substrate is the molecule that an enzyme acts upon in a chemical reaction. It binds to the enzyme’s active site to form an enzyme-substrate complex.
What is the enzyme-substrate complex?
The enzyme-substrate complex is formed when a substrate binds to the enzyme’s active site. This interaction helps catalyze the conversion of substrate into products.
What is the induced fit model of enzyme action?
The induced fit model suggests that the enzyme changes shape upon substrate binding to better fit the substrate, improving the enzyme’s efficiency in catalysis.
What factors affect enzyme activity?
Temperature
pH
Substrate concentration
Enzyme concentration
Presence of inhibitors or activators
What are enzyme inhibitors?
Enzyme inhibitors are molecules that decrease the activity of an enzyme.
What are enzyme coenzymes?
Coenzymes are non-protein molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing reactions. They often act as carriers for chemical groups or electrons.
What is enzyme activation energy?
Activation energy is the energy required to start a chemical reaction. Enzymes lower the activation energy, making it easier for reactions to occur.
What is denaturation?
Denaturation is the process in which an enzyme or protein loses its three-dimensional structure, often due to high temperature or extreme pH, resulting in the loss of its biological function.
What are monosaccharides? What are some examples
Monosaccharides are the simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar unit. They are the building blocks of more complex carbohydrates. (eg. glucose, fructose)
What are polysaccharides?
Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds. (eg. starch, glycogen, cellulose, chiltin)
What are the functions of polysaccharides?
Energy storage
Structural support
What is glycogen and where is it found?
Glycogen is a polysaccharide made of glucose units. It is main energy storage in animals, primarily stored in the liver and muscles.
What is the function of glycogen?
Glycogen serves as the primary energy reserve in animals. When blood glucose levels are low, glycogen is broken down into glucose to provide energy for muscle activity and other bodily functions.
What is cellulose and where is it found?
Cellulose is a polysaccharide made of glucose molecules linked by glycosidic bonds. It is the main structural component of plant cell walls, giving plants rigidity and strength.
What is the function of cellulose?
Cellulose provides structural support to plant cells.
What is chitin and where is it found?
Chitin is a polysaccharide made of a modified form of glucose. It is found in the exoskeletons of arthropods (insects, crustaceans) and in the cell walls of fungi.
What is the function of chitin?
Chitin provides structural support and protection. It forms the exoskeleton of arthropods and gives strength and rigidity to fungal cell walls.
What are disaccharides?
Disaccharides are carbohydrates formed by two monosaccharides linked together by a glycosidic bond. They are a type of simple sugar that can be broken down into two monosaccharides during digestion.
How are disaccharides formed?
Disaccharides are formed through a dehydration synthesis reaction, where two monosaccharides are joined by a glycosidic bond, and a molecule of water is released.
How are disaccharides broken down?
Disaccharides are broken down into their monosaccharide components through hydrolysis, a process where water is added, and the glycosidic bond is cleaved by enzymes like sucrase, lactase, or maltase.
What are lipids?
Fats (or lipids) are organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are hydrophobic and serve as a dense energy source - dont include true polymers
What are the different types of fats?
Saturated fats
Unsaturated fats
What are unsaturated fats?
Liquid at room temperature. Found in plant oils and fatty fish.
What are saturated fats?
Solid at room temperature. Found in animal products and some plant oils
What are fatty acids?
Fatty acids are the building blocks of fats and can be saturated (no double bonds between carbons) or unsaturated (one or more double bonds between carbons).
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of lipid that is essential for making cell membranes, hormones. It is found in animal products and is transported in the blood by lipoproteins
What are steroids?
Steroids are a class of lipids characterized by a four-ring carbon structure. They are hydrophobic and include both hormones and components of cell membranes.
What are phospholipids?
Phospholipids are a class of lipids that consist of two fatty acid tails, a glycerol backbone, and a phosphate group attached to the third carbon of the glycerol molecule. They are amphipathic (having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions), which makes them essential for forming cell membranes.
What is the structure of a phospholipid?
Hydrophilic head – A polar phosphate group, which is water-loving.
Hydrophobic tails – Two non-polar fatty acid chains, which are water-hating.
What are transport proteins?
Transport proteins help move substances across cell membranes or through the bloodstream.
What are structural proteins?
Structural proteins provide support and shape to cells, tissues, and organs.
What are defensive proteins?
Defensive proteins protect the body against foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses.
What are storage proteins?
Storage proteins store amino acids and other essential molecules for later use.
What are contractile proteins?
Contractile proteins are involved in muscle contraction and movement.
What are hormonal proteins?
Hormonal proteins serve as chemical messengers that regulate various biological processes. coordination of organism activities
What are enzymatic proteins?
accelerate chemical reactions
What are receptor proteins?
response of the cell to chemical stimuli
What are polypeptides?
Polypeptides are long chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds. They are the building blocks of proteins
What are monomers?
Monomers are the small, basic building blocks that link together to form polymers.
What are amino acids?
Amino acids are organic molecules that serve as the building blocks of proteins.
How many amino acids are there?
20
What is an R group/side chain?
The R group determines the chemical properties of an amino acid (eg. hydrophobic or hydrophilic, charged or neutral)
What is a functional protein?
A functional protein is a protein that has folded into a specific three-dimensional shape and is capable of performing its biological role in the cell or organism.
What is a peptide bond?
A peptide bond is a covalent bond formed between amino acids. This bond is formed through a dehydration synthesis
What are the 4 structures of a protein?
primary structure
secondary structure
tertiary structure
quaternary structure
What is a primary structure?
the sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
What is secondary structure?
The secondary structure refers to the coils and folding in a polypeptide chain
What is a tertiary structure?
Interactions between the r groups
What is a quaternary structure?
The quaternary structure is the arrangement and interaction of multiple polypeptide chains in a protein complex.
What is a nucleotide?
A nucleotide is the basic building block of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).
What are the two types of nucleic acids formed by nucleotides?
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) – Stores genetic information.
RNA (Ribonucleic acid) – Involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.
What is a catalyst?
A catalyst is a substance that speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
What is a substrate?
A substrate is the molecule upon which an enzyme acts. reactants that fit in the enzyme
What are enzyme inhibitors?
Enzyme inhibitors are molecules that reduce or block the enzyme’s ability to bind to its substrate or perform its catalytic function.
Competitive inhibitors
Non-competitive inhibitors
What is the active site of an enzyme?
The active site is a specific region on the enzyme where the substrate binds.
What is a non competitive inhibitor?
Bind to a different site on the enzyme, changing its shape and reducing activity.
What is a competitive inhibitor?
Bind to the active site, competing with the substrate.
