Macromolecules in a biological system Flashcards
Macromolecules
Large polymers.
Polymer
Chemical compound formed in covalent bonds link monomers in a long repeating chains
Covalent bonds
Macromolecules formed by an endergonic removal of water molecule. This is known as dehydration or condensation
Hydrolysis
Releases energy as bonds as breaks between monomers
Macromolecules
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acid
Carbohydrates
Sugars or starches in living organisms. Composed of monosaccharides Typically have 3,4,5,6 carbons long. Can take many forms- linear, branched, or helix
Monomers
Join together to form carbohydrates- formula is Cn H2n O n
Two monosaccharides
Joined by dehydration synthesis to form disaccharides
Sucrose
Made up of two monosaccharides joined together. One glucose monosaccharide and one fructose monosaccharide
Polysaccharides
Carbohydrates molecules formed by large numbers of linked monosaccharides.
Glycogen
Formed by dehydration synthesis and is stored mainly in the liver and the muscles. When needed for energy, this is hydrolyzed into glucose
Plants
Store glucose as starch
Oligosaccharides
Small number of monosaccharides. Found on the surface of the cell membrane and function in cell recognition
Cellulose
Major component in rigid cell walls in plants
Glycoprotein and glycolipids
Molecules that contain carbohydrates and other macromolecules. Function in cell recognition
Lipids
Macromolecules that are not true polymers. Formed by a linear arrangement or carbon atoms and hydrogen atoms called fatty acid chains. Hydrophobic and non polar
Lipids- 4 groups
Fats, oil, waxes, phospholipids, and steroids. Insoluble in water. Used as energy, storage and cushioning.
Phospholipids
Two fatty acid chains attached to phosphate molecule. Forms a semipermeable membrane around cells. Help to separate aqueous compartments in living things.
Steroids
Four ring structure. Includes cholesterol, sex hormones, hormones in the adrenal cortex. Function as chemical messengers
Protein
Polymers of long chains of amino acids monomers. Found in eggs, meat, and beans.
Amino acids
Central carbon, an amine group, a carboxylic acid, and a side group.
The link between amino acids and a covalent bond is
Peptide bond
Keratin and collagen
Hydrophobic amino acids. Not soluble in water. Structure of hair and nails
Globular protein
Hydrophilic surface. These are amino acids and are soluble in water. Function as carrier molecules: hemoglobin, antibodies, and enzymes
Enzymes
Class of proteins that catalyze biochemical reactions without being consumed in the reaction. Speed up reactions by lowering energy. Activity is affected by environment, temperature and pH
Exergonic
Release energy
Endergonic
Require energy
Pepsin
Secreted by stomach cells and initiates protein digestion
Nucleic acid
Polymers made of linked nucleotides that contain hydrogen, carbon oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus. DNA and RNA live in organisms
Nucleotides
Have 3 components: a nitrogenous base, sugar, phosphates group.
DNA
Genes. Located on chromosomes. Composed of deoxyribose sugar, one of four nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, or thymine)
RNA
Ribose sugar and nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine or uracil) Single stranded molecule. This helps convert info stored in genes composed of DNA into the proteins.
mRNA
Messenger. Located in the nucleus. Transcribes the genetic code for a protein from DNA
rRNA
Ribosome. Carries genetic code out of the nucleus to ribosomes located in the cell cytoplasm
tRNA
Transfer. Brings the amino acid dictated by mRNA to rRNA.
Ribosomes
Site of protein synthesis from amino acid monomers
