Nucleic acids and nucleotides Flashcards
What is the definition of amino acid?
Amino acids are monomers that combine to form protiens.
What is the definition of hydrogen bonding?
There are hydrogen bonds between complementary base pairs holding the nucleotides together. A hydrogen bond is an interaction involving a hydrogen atom located between a pair of other atoms having a high affinity for electrons.
What is the definition of a peptide bond?
A peptide bond is a bond between two amino acids, formed by a condensation reaction.
What is the definition of a condensation reaction?
A condensation reaction is a reaction which joins monomers by chemical bonds and it involves the elimination of a water molecule.
What is the definition of hydrolysis reaction?
Hydrolysis is the opposite of condensation and its when water is added to break a chemical bond between two molecules.
What is the definition of dipeptide?
A dipeptide is formed when two amino acids are joined together?
What is the definition of polypeptide?
A polypeptide is a polymer made of many amino acids joined together by peptide bonds. A protein may contain one or more polypeptide chains.
What is the definition of primary structure?
Primary structure refers to the sequence of amino acids in a protein.
What is the definition of secondary structure?
Secondary structure refers to the specific 3D shape that the protein takes due to hydrogen bonding between the amino acids.
What is the definition of tertiary structure?
Tertiary protein structure is the three-dimensional arrangement of the entire polypeptide chain of a protein, including all its secondary structures, in space.
What is the definition of quaternary structure?
The quaternary structure of a protein is the association of several protein chains or subunits into a closely packed arrangement.
What is the definition of globular protein?
Globular proteins have a round, spherical formation. This is because the hydrophobic parts of the protein fold inwards while the hydrophilic parts become arranged around the external surface. Globular proteins are water soluble.
What is the definition of fibrous protein?
Fibrous proteins are long strands of polypeptide chains that have cross-linkages due to hydrogen bonds. They have little or no tertiary structure. Due to the large number of hydrophobic R groups fibrous proteins are insoluble in water.
What is the definition of DNA?
DNA is the molecule within cells that contains genetic information, in the form of a sequence of bases that form a code that makes up a protein.
What is the definition of RNA?
Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a molecule that is present in the majority of living organisms and viruses. It is made up of nucleotides, which are ribose sugars attached to nitrogenous bases and phosphate groups. The nitrogenous bases include adenine, guanine, uracil, and cytosine.
