Structural Property Relationships in Biological Molecules Flashcards
Proteins
condensation polymers made from amino acids
Amino acid
a carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, an amine group, a carboxylic acid group, and an R group (side chain)
Amide linkages
formed via condensation reactions, links together amino acids, planar
protein backbone
molecular chain of alpha carbon atoms connected by amide groups
Side chains
attached to, but branch off from, main chain
Hydrophobic side chains
non polar, repelled from water
Hydrophilic side chains
highly polar bonds, have strong H bonding capability
Primary structure
the sequence in which the amino acids are linked, most important aspect
secondary structure
the pattern of hydrogen bonds between non adjacent backbone amide groups
alpha helix
regular pattern of hydrogen bonding between backbone amides
beta sheet
stretches of the protein chain connected side by side by hydrogen bonds between backbone amide groups
Tertiary structure
overall 3D shape of the protein (often guided by R groups)
Quaternary structures
When 2 or more strands of proteins are held together by IMFs
DNA
two polymer strands that coil around each other, forming a double helix
Nucleotides
monomers of DNA, a phosphate group and a nucleobase attached to a sugar
