Topic 1: Biological Molecules Flashcards
Most chemistry in biology is _____
Aqueous
Water forms _____ bonds with nearby ________ molecules
Hydrogen; hydrophilic
______ and ______ sections of a molecule will interact with water and are called _______
Polar; charged; hydrophilic
Do nonpolar molecules interact with water? Why or why not?
No because those molecules are hydrophobic, which is due to water being a polar molecule
Define amphipathic/amphiphilic
A molecule is said to be amphipathic/amphiphilic when it has polar and nonpolar regions
Anything with ____ _____ or ____ and ____ will make the molecules more nonpolar
Diatomic molecules; carbon; hydrogen
Define Macromolecules
Large molecules made by living organisms
Define monomers
Smallest functional molecule that retains the chemical and functional properties of a specific class of molecule
What elements make up organic macromolecules
Hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur, other minor elements
What does a condensation reaction do?
Removes water and brings monomers together
What does hydrolysis do?
Adds water to break monomers apart
Where is water located in the following chemical reactions: Condensation reaction, Hydrolysis
- Water in the products
- Water in the reactants
Describe Nucleic Acids
Carry genetic blueprints of every cell and instructions for functioning of that cell
What can nucleic acids be modified into?
Energy carrier molecules like ATP and GTP
How to energy carrier molecules (ATP) transfer energy?
Transfers high energy phosphates during biochemical reactions in a cell
Describe DNA
Genetic material found in all living organisms
What are the 3 components of DNA
- Pentose Sugar Molecule
- Phosphate Group
- Nitrogenous Base
What is RNA?
Mostly involved in protein synthesis; used to communicate with the rest of the cell
What are carbohydrates used for?
To provide quick energy to the body
What are the three types of carbohydrates and what are their purposes?
Monosaccharides - simple sugars; quick energy
Disaccharides - used for quick energy transport
Polysaccharides - longer chains linked by covalent bonds
Define starch
stored form of sugars in plants made up of amylose and amylopectin
Define glycogen
storage form of glucose in humans and other vertebrates made from monomers of glucose
When glucose levels decrease, what happens?
Glycogen stored in the liver and muscle cells is broken down to release glucose
What is the purpose of cellulose?
Found in the cell walls of plants to provide structural support to the cell
What is cellulose made of?
Glucose monomers that are linked by bonds of particular carbon atoms
How cellulose part of the human organ systems?
Used as fiber in human digestive system because the glucose-glucose bonds cannot be broken down by human digestive enzymes
What is chitin?
A nitrogenous carbohydrate made of monomers of sugar containing nitrogen
What is the chemical formula for monosaccharides?
(CH20)n
You have a solution that contains an enzyme that will break polysaccharides into monosaccharides. Which of the following additions will produce the most monosaccharides? Why?
a. mole of sucrose
b. mole of glucose
c. mole of ATP
d. mole of starch
d. mole of starch
It is the biggest polysaccharide and will contain the most monosaccharides
Describe a lipid
Diverse group of compounds that are all hydrophobic or insoluble in water and dominated by carbon-hydrogen bonds (hydrocarbons)
What is the significance of the hydrocarbons within lipids?
Bonds are very stable and do not take on ionized or polar states
What are the functions of lipids?
long term energy storage, insulation from the environment, building blocks of steroids, constituent of cell membranes
What are the components of triglycerides?
molecule with 3 fatty acid tails and a glycerol backbone
What is glycerol?
organic compound with 3 carbon atoms, 5 hydrogen atoms, and 3 hydroxyl groups
Where are fatty acid tails located within a trigylceride?
Attached to the oxygen atoms in the hydroxyl group of the glycerol via a covalent bond (acidic carboxyl group)
What are the structural differences between saturated fat and unsaturated fat?
Saturated: linear in shape and solid at room temperature
Unsaturated: kinks in the carbon chain and more fluid and liquid at room temperature
What is a major constituent of cell membranes including plasma membrane, membranes of major organelles, and smaller structures like lysosomes and secretory vesicles?
phospholipids
How is the phospholipid bilayer created?
Tails are hydrophobic and the heads are phosphates which are hydrophilic
What are hydrogenated fats?
Unsaturated fats with hydrogens; plant based oils changed to give the consistency of butter
What are the purposes of proteins?
Can be structural, regulatory, contractile, or protective and serve in storage, transport, immunity, and membranes or toxins and enzymes
What can cause a protein to denature?
Changes in temperature, pH, and exposure to chemicals
Is denaturation reversible?
Yes because the primary structure of a protein is often preserved
Define primary structure
unique sequence and number of amino acids in a polypeptide chain
Define secondary structure
fold patterns resulting from interactions between the non-R group portions of amino acids
Define tertiary structure
folding patterns caused by chemical interactions between various amino acids and regions of the polypeptide
Define quaternary structure
interactions between subunits
What is the fundamental structures of all proteins?
- Central carbon atom bonded to an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (-COOH), and Hydrogen atom
- Variable group of atoms known as the “R” group
What kind of bond attaches proteins together?
Peptide bonds - special covalent bond created by a condensation reaction
Define Enzymes
Catalysts in biochemical reactions like digestion
Define hormones
chemical signaling molecules that allow cells and tissues to communicate with one another
