The Structure & Function of Large Biological Molecules Flashcards
Macromolecules
a molecule containing a very large number of atoms, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer
Polymerization
Any process in which relatively small molecules, called monomers, combine chemically to produce a very large chainlike or network molecule, called a polymer via dehydration synthesis
Carbohydrates
Any of a large group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starch, and cellulose, that has energetic and structural roles. Contains hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and used as structural materials and for energy storage within living tissues.
Sugars (saccharides)
As a chemical term, “sugar” usually refers to all carbohydrates of the general formula Cn(H2O)n. Sucrose is a disaccharide, or double sugar, being composed of one molecule of glucose linked to one molecule of fructose.
Polysaccharides
A large carbohydrate molecule. It contains many small sugar molecules that are joined chemically. Also called glycan. Can be either alpha or beta bonded.
Starch ( a, branched, digestible)
A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined together by glycosidic linkages.
Cellulose ( b, H-bonds, stacking )
A structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by ẞ glycosidic linkages.
Energy storage & structural
Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, are the most common long-term energy storage molecules in cells.
Lipids
Any of a group of large biological molecules, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, that mix poorly, if at all, with water.
Fatty Acids + glycerol (tricarboxylic acids)
A tricarboxylic acid is an organic carboxylic acid whose chemical structure contains three carboxyl functional groups (-COOH). The best-known example of a tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.
Saturation
A.) Saturation is the point at which a solution of a substance can’t dissolve more of that substance.
B.) Removing a hydrogen molecule from a saturated fat makes it unsaturated.
Cis vs trans
cis - H on same side of double bond
trans - H on opposing sides of double bond
Fats vs Oils
Fats: Solid at room temp
Oils: Liquid at room temp
Steroids/cholesterol
Cholesterol is a steroid because it shares the chemical structure of four fused carbon rings with other steroids.
What make up cell membranes?
Consists of lipids (phospholipids) and proteins + cholesterol
Proteins
A biologically functional molecule consisting of one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into a specific three-dimensional structure.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups.
Amide bond
Between a carbonyl and amine group
Peptide bond
Primary: sequence
Primary structure of protein is a sequence of amino acids
Secondary: a helix, b pleated sheet
Based on hydrogen bonding patterns about the peptide bonds.
Tertiary/quaternary shape
Based upon bonding of R groups to R groups and or to the backbone
Enzyme
A macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction. Most enzymes are proteins.
Receptor
A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific effect in the cell.
Nucleic acids (RNA, DNA)
A polymer (polynucleotide) consisting of many nucleotide monomers; serves as a blueprint for proteins and, through the actions of proteins, for all cellular activities. The two types are DNA and RNA.
Nucleotides: A, C, G, T, U
Dennis base Dennis base. That’s fine. Nitrogenous base plus sugar plus phosphate
(This was voice to text from Prof Wayne, ignore the first line, I kept it because it’s funny)
Ribose
The sugar component of RNA Nucleotides
Deoxyribose
The sugar component of DNA nucleotides, having one fewer hydroxyl group than ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides.
Hydrogen Bonding (G-C, A-T)
Between highly EN O, N, & H
DNA Helix
Right handed double helix structure of DNA
The central dogma of molecular biology
DNA 👉RNA👉Protein
Glucose + Glucose
Maltose
Galactose + Glucose
Lactose
Glucose + Fructose
Sucrose
Glycerol+ 3 Fatty Acids
Fats
Triglycerides
Has Ester Linkages which is specific to fats
R Group
Representation of functional group
Are polar molecules hydrophilic or hydrophobic?
Hydrophilic
Are non-polar molecules hydrophilic or hydrophobic?
Hydrophobic
Are charged side chains hydrophillic or hydrophobic?
Hydrophilic
Pyrimidines
Single ring sugars
Purines
Double ring sugars
