Topic 3 - Biological Macromolecules: Proteins Flashcards
Why is carbon important?
It provides the framework for all biological molecules. Biological molecules are hydrocarbon skeletons (C and H only) with attached functional groups.
List the functional groups and their properties.
- Hydroxyl (polar)
- Carbonyl (polar)
- Carboxyl (polar, acidic)
- Amino/Amine (polar, basic)
- Sulfhydryl (polar, only found in proteins as sulfide bridges with other sulfhydryl)
- Phosphate (polar, acidic, only found in nucleic acids)
- Methyl (nonpolar)
Describe the structure of hydroxyl
O bonded to H and R group
R-OH
Describe the structure of carbonyl
Carbon bonded to O in a double bond with two R groups
R-(C=O)-R’
Describe the structure of carboxyl
Carbon bond to O in a double bond, with an R group bond and OH bond
R-C(=O)-OH
Describe the structure of amino/amine
Two H bond to N, with an R group bond
R-NH2
Describe the structure of sulfhydryl
R group bonded with S, H bonded with S
R-SH
Describe the structure of phosphate
P bonded to O in a double bond, a second O bonded to P with an R group bonded to O, and two OH bonded to P
R-O-P(=O)(OH)2
Describe the structure of methyl
CH3 bonded to an R group
R-CH3
Monomers
Subunits/building blocks of polymers
Polymers
Larger molecules formed from monomers
What are the four major macromolecules (polymers) and their monomers?
- Carbohydrates - monosaccharides
- Lipids - triglycerides
- Proteins - amino acids
- Nucleic acids - nucleotides
How do polymers form?
Dehydration synthesis
Dehydration synthesis
(also, condensation)
Reaction that links monomer molecules, releasing a water molecule for each bond formed
How do polymers disassemble?
Hydrolysis
Hydrolysis
Reaction that causes breakdown of larger molecules into smaller molecules by utilizing water
True or false: dehydration synthesis requires the removal of water
True
True or false: hydrolysis requires the addition of water
True
Protein
Biological macromolecule comprised of one or more amino acid chains
What are the components of amino acids?
Amino, carboxyl, R groups and H attached to a central carbon (alpha carbon)
R-CH(NH2)-COOH
What properties does an R group determine?
Nonpolar
Polar
Charged
Aromatic/aliphatic
Special function
What are the nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids?
Glycine
Alanine
Leucine
Valine
Methionine
Isoleucine
Proline
What are the nonpolar, aromatic amino acids?
Phenylalanine
Tyrosine
Tryptophan
What are the polar, uncharged amino acids?
Cysteine
Serine
Asparagine
Threonine
Glutamine