topic 01 fundamental concepts Flashcards
what are the major biomolecules?
amino acids
carbohydrates
nucleotides
lipids
what are the major biological polymers? list what they’re made up of.
proteins: amino acids
nucleic acids: nucleotides
polysaccharides: carbohydrates (monosaccharides)
which biomolecule can not form polymers? what do they do instead?
because it is not a monomer. lipids are too large to be a repeating unit in a polymer.
instead, they self-associate to form membranes etc.
describe the composition of an amino acid
contains an amine (NH2) and a carboxylic acid (COOH) which are ionized to NH3+ and COO- … and have a side chain
describe the composition of a carbohydrate
(CH2O)n
one or more hydroxyls may be replaced by other groups
describe the composition of a nucleotide
5 carbon sugar, nitrogen containing ring, and one or more phosphate groups.
the nitrogenous bases could be: A, C, G, T, U
describe the composition of a lipid
a bunch of hydrocarbons (CH2)! causing it to be poorly insoluble in water
define residue
monomers in polymers (for amino acids, nucleotides, carbohydrates)
which of the biological polymers are genetically encoded?
proteins and nucleic acids
what are the bonds in proteins called?
peptide bonds (amide bonds)
what does the conformation of a polypeptide depend on?
amino acid composition and sequence
what are the bonds in nucleic acids called?
phosphodiester bonds
what are the bonds in carbohydrates called?
glycosidic bonds <- building blocks for cellulose
how does the composition/sequence of polysaccharides differ from the other biopolymers?
most polysaccharides are homogenous. contain 1 or a few of the same type of monosaccharide residue
which of the biopolymers can encode information?
nucleic acids & polysaccharides
which of the biopolymers can carry out metabolic reactions?
proteins & nucleic acids
which of the biopolymers can store energy?
proteins & polysaccharides
which of the biopolymers can support cellular structures?
ALL! proteins & nucleic acids & polysaccharides
what is the equation for free energy?
G = H - TS
define entropy and enthalpy
entropy: level of disorder
enthalpy: heat
how is genetic information encoded in genes?
nucleic acid sequence
differentiate between vitro and vivo
vitro: observing in a glass
vivo: observing in an organism
when is a reaction spontaneous? non spontaneous?
spontaneous when exergonic — G < 0
non spontaneous when endergonic — G > 0
why can G values be added?
because only the initial and final state matter
if the G of an organism = 0, what happens?
organism dead lmao
describe the process of photosynthesis in regards to oxidation & reduction and synthesis & breakdown. which of the the processes are thermodynamically favoured? what does this mean?
in the synthesis of monosaccharides from CO2, carbon is reduced (gains electrons from the addition of H or removal of O2). this part is with the help of the sun’s energy.
in the breakdown of monosaccharides, carbon is oxidized (loses electrons) and becomes CO2.
the breakdown is more favoured. therefore, it can be coupled with energy requiring processes.
describe the central dogma of molecular biology
transcription: gene of DNA transcribed to a complimentary strand of messengerRNA with the help of RNA polymerase
translation: RNA translated into a polypeptide chain with the help of transferRNA which carries amino acids and recognizes codons
define genetic code
correspondence between messengerRNA and transferRNA and amino acids
what are the codons that stop translation?
UAA, UAG, UGA
