Topic 1 Flashcards
What is the extent of the variety of life, both past and present?
The variety of life, both past and present, is extensive, but the biochemical basis of life is similar for all living things.
What are monomers?
Monomers are the smaller units from which larger molecules are made.
What are polymers?
Polymers are molecules made from a large number of monomers joined together.
Give examples of monomers.
Examples of monomers include monosaccharides, amino acids, and nucleotides.
What is a condensation reaction?
A condensation reaction joins two molecules together with the formation of a chemical bond and involves the elimination of a molecule of water.
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
A hydrolysis reaction breaks a chemical bond between two molecules and involves the use of a water molecule.
What are monosaccharides?
Monosaccharides are the monomers from which larger carbohydrates are made, such as glucose, galactose, and fructose.
Which common monosaccharides are there?
Glucose, galactose, and fructose.
how is a glycosidic bond formed between two monosaccharides
condensation reaction removing a molecule of water
How is maltose formed?
Maltose is a disaccharide formed by the condensation of two glucose molecules.
How is sucrose formed?
Sucrose is a disaccharide formed by the condensation of a glucose molecule and a fructose molecul
How is lactose formed?
Lactose is a disaccharide formed by the condensation of a glucose molecule and a galactose molecule.
What are the two isomers of glucose and how do they differ?
The two isomers of glucose are α-glucose and β-glucose.
alpha glucose has a hydroxyl group below and beta glucose has a hydroxyl group above
How are polysaccharides formed?
Polysaccharides are formed by the condensation of many glucose units.
Which polysaccharides are formed by the condensation of α-glucose?
Glycogen and starch.
Which polysaccharide is formed by the condensation of β-glucose?
Cellulose.
Describe the basic structure and function of glycogen.
Polysaccharide of a-glucose;
OR
polymer of a-glucose;
(Joined by) glycosidic bonds
OR
Branched structure;
Hydrolysed (to glucose);
Glucose used in respiration;
describe the basic structure and function of starch.
Starch is a mixture of amylose (unbranched)
and amylopectin (branched) used by plants to store glucose for energy.
Describe the basic structure and function of cellulose.
Cellulose is a linear polysaccharide that provides structural support in plant cell walls due to its high tensile strength.
Straight chains of cellulose interact with each other with hydrogen bonds.
This forms structures known as microfibrils.
These microfibrils provide strength to the cellulose
structure..
test for reducing sugars
- Heat with Benedict’s reagent (1);
- colour change from blue to brick-red (1)
test for non-reducing sugars
- Heat with Benedict’s reagent and no colour change (1);
- boil with acid (HCl) and then neutralise with (NaHCO3) (1);
- re- heat with Benedict’s reagent and colour change from blue to brick-red (1)
test for starch
add iodine
should turn blue-black
What are the two main groups of lipids?
Triglycerides and phospholipids.
How are triglycerides formed?
Triglycerides are formed by the condensation of one molecule of glycerol and three molecules of fatty acid.
What type of reaction forms an ester bond between glycerol and a fatty acid?
A condensation reaction.
What is the structural difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?
saturated fatty acids have no double bonds between carbon atoms,
while unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds.
How do phospholipids differ from triglycerides in their structure?
In phospholipids, one of the fatty acids in a triglyceride is substituted by a phosphate-containing group.
What are the implications of the structural differences between triglycerides and phospholipids?
TRIGLYCERIDES are good for energy storage because of there long hydrocarbon tails which contain lots of chemical energy.
They are also insouble so they dont affect water potential
PHOSPHOLIPIDS make up the bilayer of the cell membranes
their heads are hydrophilic and their tails are hydrophobic so they form a double layer with their heads facing out towards the water on either side.
What is the emulsion test for lipids?
The emulsion test involves mixing a sample with ethanol, then adding water. If lipids are present, a milky emulsion will form.
What is the significance of the R-group in fatty acids?
The R-group determines whether a fatty acid is saturated or unsaturated, which affects the physical properties of the lipid, such as melting point and fluidity.
What are the primary functions of triglycerides in the body?
Triglycerides serve as a major form of energy storage and provide insulation and protection for organs.
What role do phospholipids play in cells?
Phospholipids are key components of cell membranes,
heads hydrophilic and tails hydrophobic so form a double layer
forming bilayers that separate the cell’s interior from its external environment.
What are the different properties of triglycerides and phospholipids, and how do these relate to their structure
Triglycerides are primarily used for energy storage and insulation due to their hydrophobic nature,
making them insoluble in water.
Phospholipids, on the other hand, have both hydrophobic (fatty acid tails) and hydrophilic (phosphate group) regions,
allowing them to form the bilayer structure of cell membranes,
creating a barrier between the cell and its environment and facilitating cell signaling and transport.
What are amino acids and what is their general structure?
Amino acids are the monomers from which proteins are made.
The general structure of an amino acid includes an amine group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH),
and a side chain (R group) that varies among different amino acids.
How do the twenty common amino acids differ?
The twenty amino acids that are common in all organisms differ only in their side chain (R group).
What is formed during a condensation reaction between two amino acids?
A condensation reaction between two amino acids forms a peptide bond.
What is a dipeptide?
A dipeptide is formed by the condensation of two amino acids.
What is a polypeptide?
A polypeptide is formed by the condensation of many amino acids.
What might a functional protein contain?
A functional protein may contain one or more polypeptides.
What roles do hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and disulfide bridges play in proteins?
Hydrdogen bonds are involved in the secondary structure of proteins forming between amino acids
ionic bonds and disulphide bridges are involved in the tertiary structure
What are the four levels of protein structure and their importance?
Primary structure: The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.
Secondary structure: The local folding of the polypeptide chain into alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets.
Tertiary structure: The overall 3D shape of a polypeptide, stabilized by interactions such as hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, and disulfide bridges.
Quaternary structure: The structure formed by the assembly of multiple polypeptide chains into a functional protein.
Importance: Each level of structure is crucial for the protein’s function.
What is the Biuret test for proteins?
The Biuret test for proteins involves adding Biuret reagent to a solution.
If proteins are present, the solution will change color to purple due to the reaction of copper ions with peptide bonds.
How do enzymes affect the activation energy of reactions?
Reduces activation energy;
Accept ‘reduces Ea’.
Due to bending bonds
OR
Without enzyme, very few substrates have sufficient energy for reaction;
Accept ‘Due to stress/pressure/tension on bonds’
OR ‘Due to weakening bonds.
What is the induced-fit model of enzyme action?
(before reaction) active site not complementary to/does not fit substrate;
- Shape of active site changes as substrate binds/as enzyme-substrate complex forms;.
- Stressing/distorting/bending bonds (in substrate leading to reaction);
How does the tertiary structure of an enzyme relate to its function?
The tertiary structure of an enzyme determines the shape and properties of its active site,
which is crucial for the enzyme’s ability to bind to specific substrates
and form enzyme-substrate complexes.
Why are enzymes specific to their substrates?
Enzymes are specific because their active sites have a unique shape
and chemical environment that only fits and interacts with specific substrate molecules,
ensuring that enzymes catalyze only particular reactions.
How does enzyme concentration affect the rate of enzyme-controlled reactions?
Increasing enzyme concentration generally increases the rate of reaction,
as more enzyme molecules are available to catalyze the reaction.
However, this effect plateaus when the substrate concentration becomes the limiting factor.
How does substrate concentration affect the rate of enzyme-controlled reactions?
Increasing substrate concentration increases the rate of reaction up to a point,
after which the rate levels off because all the enzyme active sites are occupied (saturation point).