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Fundamentals of the Living Cell > Semester 1 > Flashcards

Semester 1 Flashcards

1
Q

What are biological molecules

A

Carbon-based (except for small inorganic molecules)

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2
Q

What is the composition of the cell

A

Water - 70%
Macromolecules - 26%
Small organic molecules - 3%
Inorganic ions - 1%

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3
Q

What is the general formula for carbohydrates

A

(CH20)n

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4
Q

What are the two types of monosaccharides

A

Ketone based and Aldehyde based - they have different positions of double bond

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5
Q

What type of monosaccharide is glucose

A

An Aldose

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6
Q

Where is D-Glucose found

A

Only synthetically in a lab setting (not found in nature)

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7
Q

What are disaccharides

A

Two monomers of sugar molecules which come together to form a molecules

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8
Q

What are the features of cellulose

A

B-1,4 glycosidic bond; each molecule is rotated 180 so it cannot be broken down

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9
Q

What are the features of starch and glycogen

A

A-1,4 glycosidic bond; there is no rotation between molecules so both are easily broken down and major energy sources for humans

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10
Q

What type of monosaccharide is glycogen and what are it’s features

A

An Aldose; it has a branched structure which saves space due to the 1,4 and 1,6 glycosidic bonds; stored in muscles and cells

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11
Q

What are oligosaccharides

A

Macromolecules that form blood groups

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12
Q

What are amino acids

A

Protein building blocks that form peptide bonds (covalent bonds) between the COOH and NH2

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13
Q

What is the primary structure

A

Sequence of bases; DNA contains genes and the genes code for proteins which carry out multiple functions in the cell - studied using DNA sequencing

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14
Q

What is the secondary structure

A

The regular folded form, often stabilised by hydrogen bonds eg. A,B and Z Form DNA - studied by Xray techniques and chemical probing

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15
Q

What is the tertiary structure

A

Overall 3D structure stabilised by hydrogen bonds, hydrophobic, hydrophilic and vdW forces - DNA supercoiling - studied using e- microscopy

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16
Q

What is the quaternary structure

A

Organisation of macromolecules into assemblies, often stabilised by ionic bonds - interlocked chromosomes

17
Q

Who discovered that DNA has a double helical structure

A

Watson and Crick

18
Q

How is DNA anti-parallel

A

The opposite orientations of the two strands of a DNA double helix; the 5’ end of one strand aligns with the 3’ end of the other strand

19
Q

How many hydorgen bonds are between base pairs

A

A and T - 2
C and G - 3
The differences in hydrogen bonding ability means that only complementary bases join together

20
Q

What is ATP

A

Adenosine triose phosphate is an energy unit

21
Q

What is cAMP

A

Second messenger

22
Q

What is AMP involved in

A

RNA synthesis

23
Q

What is the structure of triglycerides

A

1 glycerol with 3 fatty acids and ester bonds

24
Q

What is the structure of a phospholipid

A

Glycerol backbone with 2 fatty acid side chains. The phosphate head contains different elements

25
Q

What lipids form membranes

A

Micelles - fats are found on the inside with a polar outer region so that it can transform
Liposomes - have a bilayer which fuses with cells and allows materials to get inside the cell

26
Q

What is cholesterol

A

A steroid that can intercalate into the membrane and is a hormone building block.

27
Q

Is DNA or RNA more stable

A

DNA as it has 1 less oxygen than RNA

28
Q

What are examples of single molecule diseases

A

Diabetes - absence of a protein hormone (insulin) leads to failure to regulate blood glucose
Sickle cell disease - one amino acid change in a globin chain causes haemoglobin to aggregate into polymers
Cystic fibrosis - absence of a membrane protein that transports chloride leads to altered properties of secretions

Fundamentals of the Living Cell (1 decks)

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