Topic 1 - Foundations of Biochemistry

Question 1

Living matter is characterised by?

Answer 1

extraction, transformation & systematic use of energy
ability to sense & respond
ability for fairly precise self replication w/ room for evolution

Question 2

Name the 3 distinct domains of life?

Answer 2

Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya

Question 3

What are the common features shared by animal and bacterial cells?

Answer 3

cytoplasm, plasma membrane, ribosomes

Question 4

What features are not shared w/ animal & bacterial cells?

Answer 4

Bacteria have nucleoid (no nucleus), no membrane bound organelles and no nuclear membrane.
Animal cells have nucleus, nuclear membrane & membrne bound organelles

Question 5

Prokaryotic cell features? (bacteria)

Answer 5

small
single cell organism
nucleoid (no nucleus)
low DNA content
cytoplasmic DNA plasmids
no membrane bound organelles

Question 6

Eukaryotic cell features?

Answer 6

larger
single or multicellular organisms
nucleus
NO cytoplasmic DNA plasmids
membrane bound organelles

Question 7

Function of ribosomes?

Answer 7

synthesise proteins

Question 8

Function of lysosomes?

Answer 8

degrades intracellular debris

Question 9

Function of chloroplasts?

Answer 9

provide plant with energy (photosynthesise)
immune response
fatty acid synthesis
amino acid synthesis
Calvin cycle

Question 10

Function of mitochondria?

Answer 10

Provides energy => oxidises fuels to produce ATP

Question 11

Function of nucleus?

Answer 11

contains DNA (chromatin)

Question 12

Function of nucleolus?

Answer 12

site of ribosomal RNA synthesis

Question 13

Function of cytoskeleton and what it consists of?

Answer 13

Function: support cell shape & transport of substances

consists of: actin, microtubules, intermediate filaments

Question 14

What is a monomer? Give examples

Answer 14

a molecule that may bind chemically to other molecules to form a polymer
e.g. amino acids, nucleotides, acetyl groups

Question 15

How is a polymer created? Give an examples

Answer 15

created by polymerisation of smaller, monomer molecules.
e.g. nucleotide => DNA or RNA
amino acid => protein

Question 16

Describe the properties of Carbon

Answer 16

can form 4 single covalent bonds

arranged tetrahedrally at 109.5 degrees to each other

Question 17

What elements other than carbon are also common in biomolecules?
What bonds to they form in order to make what kind of atom?

Answer 17

N, O (&S) are common, main electronegative in biomolecules

Form polar bonds to make hydrophilic atoms

Question 18

More Oxygen makes molecules…?

Answer 18

more soluble & more polar

Question 19

Look at functional groups & their properties

Answer 19

see slides 37-49

Question 20

A bit about geometric isomers? How do they occur? Name the 2 kinds

Answer 20

Is a form of stereoisomerism.
occur when there is restricted rotation somewhere in molecule (e.g. c=c double bond)
have different chemical & physical properties
(cis vs trans)
cis -molecules locked on same side
trans -molecules locked on different sides
SEE SLIDES 53 & 54

Question 21

A bit about recognising stereoisomers?

Answer 21

differemt molecules, w/ same atoms & order of bonding
Configuration:
1. can be geometric isomers (cis/trans)
2. chiral centres: at least 1 asymmetric C atom w/ 4 different groups bonded to one C

Question 22

A bit about chiral carbons and their configuration?

Answer 22

have 4 different functional groups attached
can be arranged in 2 ways that represent non-superimposabale mirror images of each other

SEE SLIDE 55.

Question 23

A bit about enantiomers and diastereomers?

Answer 23

enantiomers:
are 2 pairs of mirror images that are non-superposable (not identical)
have identical physical properties and react identically to achiral reagents

diastereomers have different chemical & physical properties
all other pairs are diastereomers (not mirror images)
SEE SLIDE 56

Question 24

DONT FORGET REVIEW QUESTIONS

Answer 24

DO THEM !!!!

Question 25

What is an isomer?

Answer 25

molecules that have the same molecular formula, but have a different arrangement of the atoms in space