Q2 Bio - Biomolecules Flashcards
Four categories of Macromolecules
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids
Why is Carbon the central element?
- Has 4 outer shell electrons, therefore its bonding capacity is great
- Very stable once bound to other elements
True or False
All biomolecules contain a Carbon chain or ring
True
Carbon binds to what group in sugars?
OH Groups
Carbon binds to what group in Amino Acids?
NH2 Groups
Carbon binds to what groups of nucleotides of DNA, RNA, and ATP?
H2PO4 Groups
Carbonyl is characterized by
Carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom (C=O)
Hydroxyl is characterized by
Covalent bond between one H and one O atom
Carboxyl is characterized by
Two functional groups attached to a single C atom, namely, Hydroxyl and Carbonyl
Carboxyl is COOH
Amino group is characterized by
A single N atom bonded to two H atoms
Sulfhydryl is characterized by
an S atom bonded to an H atom
Phosphate is characterized by
a Phosphorus atom bonded to four Oxygen atoms, with three single bonds and one double bond
Methyl group is characterized by
a Carbon atom bonded to three Hydrogen atoms
Isomers
Compounds with the same formula but different structures
Structural Isomer
Isomers with a difference in the C skeleton structure
Stereoisomer
Isomers with a difference in the location of functional groups
Enantiomers
Special types of stereoisomers which are mirror images of each other
How are monomers made into polymers?
Monomers are made into polymers through the loss of a water molecule which is called a condensation reaction, specifically dehydration reaction.
How are polymers broken down into monomers?
Polymers are broken down into monomers through gaining water molecules called hydrolysis reaction
These are macromolecules that speed up the dehydration reaction process
Enzymes
- These are simple sugars
- Only one 3-C, 5-C, 6-C chain or ring involved
Simple sugars or monosaccharides
General Formula: Multiples of CH2O
- Double sugars
- Two 6-C chains or rings bonded together
Disaccharides or double sugars
The most common monosaccharide
Glucose C6H12O6
Storage polysaccharide of plants, consists entirely of glucose monomers
Starch
Surplus starch is stored as granules w/in chloroplasts & other plastids
A polysaccharide that is a major component of the tough wall of plant cells
Cellulose
A structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeleton of arthropods
* Also provides structural support for the cell walls of many fungi
Chitin
Biomolecule composed of chains of amino acids
Proteins
How many amino acids exist?
20
What are in amino acids?
- Central Carbon
- Amine group
- Carboxyl group
- R group
What makes amino acids distinct from each other?
Their respective R groups
What binds amino acids?
- Peptide bonds
- COOH group binds to the NH2 group of another amino acid through dehydration reaction
Protein Function
Enzyme Catalyst
Decreases the activation energy for a chemical reaction
* specific for one reaction
Protein Function
Defense
antibodies, bind to very specific foreign molecules to neutralize and tag them for recognition of defensive cells
Protein Function
Transport
Hemoglobin: found in rbc, transfers oxygen from lungs to tissues
Myoglobin: found in striated muscles, supplies oxygen to muscle cells (myocytes)
Transferrin: blood-plasma glycoprotein responsible for ferric-ion delivery
Protein Function
Support
Keratin: helps form hair, nails, and epidermis
Fibrin: for blood clot contraction or retraction
Collagen: structural support to the extracellular space of connective tissues
Protein Function
Motion
Actin/myosin: muscle contraction
Protein Function
Regulation
some hormones, regulatory proteins on DNA, cell receptors
Protein Function
Storage
biological reserves of iron and amino acids
7 Functions of Proteins
- Enzyme catalysts
- Defense
- Transport
- Support
- Motion
- Regulation
- Storage
Four levels of protein structure
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Quaternary
Primary Structure of Proteins
Sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain
Secondary Structure of Proteins
- refers to local folded structures that form within a polypeptide
- alpha helix and beta pleated sheet (most common types)
Tertiary Structure of Proteins
- overall 3D structure of a polypeptide
- forms due to interactions between R groups
- entire length of amino acids folded into a shape
Quaternary Structure of Proteins
- multiple polypeptide chains
- single polypeptides only have three levels. the quaternary structure is obtained upon the coming together of multiple polypeptides
What does each nucleotide in DNA contain?
- 5-C Sugar (deoxyribose)
- Phosphate
- Nitrogen Base (AGCT)
Lipids
- hydrophobic biomolecules
- central core of glycerol
- bound to up to 3 fatty acid chains
Bonds between glycerol and each fatty acid chain
Ester bonds (through dehydration)
