Structure and Function of Major Compounds Flashcards
alipathic
an organic compound with a straight or branched chain structure
-ane
single bond
-ene
double bonds
iso-
prefix when 2 carbons are bonded to another carbon, forming a branch which is an isomer of the straight chain compound
-yl
implies a side group
methyl group
important in determining whether or not a gene will be expressed, it makes the DNA less accessible
how are carbons numbered?
the first carbon is the one most oxidized
aromatic hydrocarbons
hydrocarbons that contain a ring structure; electrons are shared equally and are non-polar
functional groups
structures bonded to the carbon chain, usually b/w carbon and oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, or phosphate groups and tend to be polar + reactive
oxidation
loss of electrons (loss of H or gain of O)
reduction
gain of electrons (gain of H or loss of O)
-ate
indicates negatively charged; an anion
charged groups
- acidic groups dissociate at the physiological pH and exist as anions
- carboxylic acids are weak acids, they have a conj. base existing in equilibrium, w/ the acid
phosphate
very important and common functional group; so common that is usually just abbreviated by P, as in glucose 6-P; makes more hydrophillic; soluble
amines
compounds w/ nitrogen usually basic w/ a +ve charge; if the N has 3 bonds it is neutral (there are 2 remaining electrons in nitrogen’s valence shell, if they form a bond w/ a carbon atom or hydrogen ion, the N has a +ve charge)
electronegativity
O, N, S > C in terms of electronegativity; like water, they form polar bonds and b/c of that substances w/ groups containing these elements are hydrophilic
reactivity of polar molecules
partial +ve charges on carbon molecules attract negatively; carboxylic acids tend to react w/ a # of compounds, expelling water in a condensation rxn
esters & amids
formed through condensation reactions; CO2 is the anhydride form of carbonic acid
monosaccharides
have 3 or more C atoms, w/ a ketone or aldehyde group and hydroxyl groups: CnH2nOn
D-sugars
sugars with the highest numbered chiral carbon with the -OH group on the right (most sugars in human tissues)
L-sugars
sugars with the highest numbered chiral carbon with the -OH group on the left; most proteins are made with these; ALL
ring structure
the ring structures at the bottom are the most common form of monosaccharides in solution; the carbonyl carbon reacts w/ a hydroxyl group in the same molecule, the oxygen from the hydroxyl group becomes part of the carbon ring
anomeric carbon
the new chiral center formed in ring closure; it was the carbon containing the carbonyl in the straight-chain form
anomers of cyclic glucose
exist in equilibrium w/ the straight-chain form in solution; the OH group on the anomeric carbon can react w/ an -OH or an -NH group on another molecule; these are glycosidic bonds and can be alpha or beta
fatty acids
chains of carbon atoms bonded to hydrogen atoms; shorter-chained fatty acids are more water soluble
triglycerides
aka triaglycerols; glycerol + 3 fatty acids, joined together through ester linkages
free radicals
have a single electron and exist in solution independently; many compounds can be turned into free radicals when one of their electrons is removed (radiation can also create free radicals
Saturated
contains carbons all linked through single bonds
Unsatturated
contains carbon-carbon double or tripple bonds
