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Biology 107 > Topic 2: Chemical Bonds and Macromolecules > Flashcards

Topic 2: Chemical Bonds and Macromolecules Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 major/essential macromolecules?

A

Oxygen, Carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen

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2
Q

Elements required in small quantities are called

A

Trace elements

Note: All organisms have the same macromolecules but their trace elements differ across organisms.

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3
Q

Elements contained in DNA

A

CHON + P

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Phosphorus.

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4
Q

Elements contained in protein

A

CHON + S

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Sulfur.

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5
Q

What feature makes water useful?

A

It is a polar molecule due to

a highly electronegative oxygen atom.

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6
Q

Define electronegativity:

A

atoms attraction for electrons
Highly electronegative has a great pull of elements electrons (more attractive), low electronegative element has less of a pull (less attractive)

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7
Q

Define Polarity:

A

The unequal distribution of electron in bond
Which creates a dipole

Makes one side of the compound partially changed positive and the other end negative

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8
Q

What happens when two bonded atoms have weak electronegativity?

A

No polarity occurs (nonpolar)

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9
Q

What happens when one has weak electronegativity and the other has strong electronegativity?

A

Polarity occurs.

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10
Q

How do hydrogen bonds form in water?

A

Polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other.
As H2O interacts with itself and other polar molecules
(this forms the H bond)

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11
Q

Why don’t water and lipid/fats mix?

A

Because water repels nonpolar molecules since water is polar
(only polar and polar molecules dissolve each other, so polar and non-polar molecules repel each other)

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12
Q

Define covalent bonds

A

2 atoms share a pair of electrons = strong bond
(molecule consists of 2 or more atoms)

Another explanation:
Covalent bonds are the sharing of a pair of valence electrons by two atoms.
Molecules consist of 2+ atoms with covalent bonds. (strong bond)

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13
Q

Define Ionic bonds

A

The electronegativity in one atom rips off the electrons of another atom of the opposite electronegativity and ions are formed.
(Ex. Cl- Na+)

Another explanation:
Ionic bonds: e- is transferred between two atoms with opposite electronegativities, atoms become charged and stay associated.(strong bond)

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14
Q

Define hydrogen bond

A

Interaction between H atom and any other polar molecules through dipole partial charges

• A hydrogen bond forms when a hydrogen atom covalently bound to an electronegative atom is also attracted to another electronegative atom. (weak bond)

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15
Q

Define Van der waal interactions

A

Van der waal interactions are attractions between molecules that are close together which result its charges. (weak bond).

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16
Q

What bonds are considered strong, which ones weak?

A

Strong: ionic and covalent bonds
Weak: hydrogen bond and van der waal interactions

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17
Q

What is the backbone of life and how?

A

Carbon

  • Life is carbon based
  • Carbon is able to form large, complex, and diverse molecules
  • Proteins, DNA, carbohydrates, lipids in living matter are all composed of carbon compounds.
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18
Q

Why is carbon the backbone of life?

A
  • Carbon can form bonds with 4 other molecules. Ex: Methane
  • It can form chains (this is why it is great for building macromolecules) ex. C-C-C-C
  • It can form double and triple bonds. Ex: ethene C=C and ethyne
  • Therefore, have a great molecular diversity
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19
Q

Why is the bond between carbon and hydrogen non-polar?

A

This is because both elements are too weak in their electronegativity.

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20
Q

What happens when Oxygen is added to the bond between carbon and hydrogen?

A

It becomes polar because Oxygen is highly electronegative (oxygen form dipole).

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21
Q

What is the electronegativity of carbon and oxygen

A

Carbon: 2.5
Oxygen: 3.5

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22
Q

What are macromolecules?

A

Macromolecules are large and complex molecules that are covalently bonded.

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23
Q

What bonds are macromolecules built with?

A

Covalent bonds

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24
Q

What is structure and function inseparable (always associated with each other)?

A

The structure of macromolecules determines its function.

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25
The smaller, repeating molecules that serve as building blocks are called
Monomer
26
What is a polymer?
A polymer is a long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks. - Made up of chains of monomers Note: poly: many Mono: single or one
27
Every polymer is built on
Monomers
28
What are the 4 of life’s organic molecules
1) Carbohydrates (polymers of sugar) 2) Proteins (polymer of amino acids) 3) Nucleic acids (monomers of nucleotides) 4) Lipids
29
Which of the organic molecules is not a polymer?
Lipids (made up of atoms not monomers)
30
Difference between synthesis and breakdown | based on the chaining type, bond type, energy use, name of its system
Synthesis - Growing of the chain (adding more and more monomers) - Formation of covalent bonds - Requires energy - Involves process of dehydration/condensation Breakdown - Taking the chain apart - Cleavage (splitting) of covalent bond - Energy is available (energy is made back). - Involves process of hydrolysis
31
Dehydration is also called
Condensation synthesis
32
Difference between dehydration and hydrolysis
Dehydration - Synthesizing a polymer - Removal of water molecules - Form a new bond - Water is a product of the reaction Hydrolysis - Breaking down a polymer - Addition of water - Breaks bond - Water is the reactant
33
What are carbohydrates?
Sugars and polymers of sugars
34
Simple or sugars are called
monosaccharides
35
Carbohydrate macromolecules refer to
polysaccharides
36
What are the functions of carbohydrate ?
- Energy storage - Cell structure - Cell-cell recognition
37
What three elements are found in monosaccharides?
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
38
Molecular formula of monosaccharides are usually multiples of
CH2O
39
What is the main energy source of the cell?
Glucose
40
2 forms of glucose:
linear and ring form
41
In our cell glucose exist in which form?
Ring form
42
What is the reactive group in glucose?
-OH group
43
What is the formula for glucose?
C6H12O6
44
The bond between 2 monosaccharides is called?
``` Glycosidic linkage (a covalent bond/strong bond) “Glyco” = sugar ```
45
What is one isomer of glucose?
Fructose
46
List the 4 polysaccharides
Starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin
47
What is glycosidic linkage?
A covalent bond formed between 2 monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction.
48
What is the main functions of glycosidic linkage and where are they found?
Storage function - Starch found in plants - Starch is branched, not as much as glycogen - Alpha 1,4 glycosidic linkage (number 1 Carbon to number 4 Carbon) and alpha 1,6 at the branching points - Starch is the main storage of carbohydrates in plants. - Glycogen found in animals - Highly branched - Main storage in animals and fungi. Structural function - Cellulose in plants - Not branched, straight “ropes” of glucose - Alpha 1,4 and beta 1,4 glycosidic link - Alternating links makes cellulose really strong - Chitin in fungi and exoskeleton arthropods
49
2 types of starch
- Amylose: completely unbranched - Amylopectin: a complex form of starch, is a branched polymer with 1-6 linkages at the branch points. * *Alpha 1,6 glycosidic linkage creates branches.
50
Glycogen is found mainly in?
Liver and muscle cells. Hydrolysis of glycogen releases what and when? It releases glucose when the demand for sugar is high.
51
Difference between Starch and glycogen
Starch: - Branched (not as branched as glycogen) - Longer than Glycogen Glycogen: - Highly branched - Shorter than starch
52
Similarities between Starch and glycogen
- Both have the same monomer (glucose) | - Have the same linkage/attachment (glycosidic linkage)
53
Why can’t humans digest cellulose?
This is because we are unable to break the Beta 1,4 glycosidic linkage that allows it to form a tough/tight fibre.
54
What is the only organism that can break the beta 1,4 glycosidic linkage in cellulose?
Bacteria.
55
Example of organisms that can digest cellulose and why?
Cows can digest cellulose because of the bacteria in their stomach.
56
what are the unifying feature of lipids?
they aggregate AWAY from water (they are hydrophobic, water hating/disliking!) and have non polar C-H chains
57
What makes Lipid non-polar and aggregate away from water?
The absence of Oxygen in its chain.
58
Biologically important functions of fats:
fats = storage molecules | - Constructed from glycerol and fatty acids
59
Biologically important functions of phospholipids:
Phospholipids = cell membrane bilayer | - Glycerol backbone, polar phosphate head, two hydrophobic fatty acid tails
60
Biologically important functions of steroids:
Steroids = a variety of functions and appearances. Very diverse!! - Made of 4 fused carbon rings with other compounds, more rings, etc, attached to the base rings
61
Glycerol is composed of?
3 carbon alcohol + OH at each carbon atom
62
Fatty acid is composed of?
1 carboxyl group + long C-H
63
Main fat used for storage is?
Triglyceride
64
How is fatty acid formed?
Fatty acid is formed from the dehydration of glycerol.
65
What tells at what temperature fat turns to solid?
Variation in tail length and double bond
66
Phospholipid is similar to?
Triglyceride
67
What is the difference between phospholipids and triglyceride?
Phospholipids have a hydrophilic phosphate group instead of a third tail as in triglyceride.
68
What does it mean to be amphipathic and give an example?
Amphipathic means one end of the molecule is polar and the other end is nonpolar. Phospholipids are amphipathic. (Tails: hydrophobic/non-polar, head: polar/hydrophilic)
69
The head of phospholipid is hydrophilic/polar because?
Because of the changed phosphate.
70
What happens when phospholipids are added to water?
They spontaneously self-assemble into a bilayer.
71
What is referred to as the building block of life?
Proteins
72
What are the monomers of proteins?
Amino acids
73
Functions of proteins:
- Speeding up (catalyzing) chemical reactions (enzymes) - Storage - Structural support - Transport - Cellular communications - Movement - Defense against foreign substances
74
Proteins are constructed/made from a set of how many amino acids?
20 amino acids(aas)
75
Polymers of amino acids (connected in specific sequence) are called?
Polypeptides
76
A protein consists of?
One or more polypeptides
77
Biologically active or functional molecules are?
Proteins | **For polypeptides to become proteins work has to be done on the structure.
78
Parts of an amino acid
- Alpha carbon - Amino group - Carboxyl group
79
What are the reactive groups in amino acids and their function?
Amino group and carboxyl groups are the reactive groups involved in creating covalent bonds to create polymers
80
3 broad categories of amino acids:
- Non-polar side chains - Polar side chains - Electrically charged side chains
81
Amino acids are linked by?
Peptide Bonds
82
What is a peptide bond?
Is a bond formed from a dehydration reaction between amino group and carboxyl of two amino acids.
83
What is the directionality of polypeptide chains?
From amino terminus (N) to Carboxyl Terminus(C)
84
New amino acids are always added to the?
carboxyl group.
85
Polypeptide is not a protein until it is?
in its proper folded structure.
86
4 structures of protein
- Primary structure - Secondary structure - Tertiary structure - Quaternary structure
87
Primary structure protein
- Sequence of amino acids - Determined by inherited genetic information. - Other level of structure is determined by the primary structure - Primary structure determines the function of the protein
88
Secondary structure protein
- Two forms: alpha helix and beta pleated sheet | - Hydrogen bonds between amino acids forms the helix or pleated sheets
89
Tertiary structure protein
- An overall shape of the protein - Determined by R-group interactions, NOT by backbone interactions - Some proteins function perfectly fine in this form
90
Quaternary structure protein
- 2 or more polypeptides join together to form a macromolecule - Ex. hemoglobin has 4 polypeptides (tetramer)
91
Factors that affect protein structure
- pH - Salt concentration - Temperature
92
Two types of nucleic acids:
→ Deoxyribonucleic acid – DNA | → Ribonucleic acid – RNA
93
Central Dogma:
DNA → RNA is transcription | RNA → proteins is translation
94
Transcription and translation are SEPARATE in eukaryotes – this happens in the ______ and on the __________, respectively. Transcription and translation occur TOGETHER in prokaryotes, in the _______.
nucleus, ribosomes, cytoplasm
95
What is the role of mRNA?
To transmit information within the cell
96
What are nucleic acid monomers and polymers called?
Monomers: nucleotides Polymers: polynucleotides
97
A nitrogen base + sugar ring is called?
Nucleoside
98
A nucleoside + phosphate group is called?
nucleotide
99
Name the different nitrogenous bases
In DNA: Adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine In RNA: Adenine, guanine, cytosine, uracil
100
DNA vs. RNA pentose sugars:
In DNA, there is one less oxygen bonded to the H at the 2’C - Deoxyribose sugar In RNA, there is an oxygen bonded to the H at the 2’C - Ribose sugar
101
Nucleotide polymers
Directionality - Read from 5’C to 3’C - This is the direction of synthesis Backbone - Sugar phosphate backbone (in DNA) Bonding - Covalent bond as a result of dehydration synthesis - Phosphodiester bond between sugars and phosphate group Charge? - The phosphate group is negatively charged
102
Complementary base pairing
Adenine bonds with thymine in DNA and with uracil in RNA - There are 2 hydrogen bonds Cytosine bonds with guanine in both DNA and RNA - There are 3 hydrogen bonds

Biology 107 (5 decks)

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