Unit 1 - Biochemistry Flashcards
Isotope
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons
Radioisotope
An unstable isotope that decays over time by emitting radiation
Molecule
A substance composed of two or more non-metal atoms that are covalently bonded together
Organic Molecule
A carbon-containing molecule in which carbon atoms are nearly always bonded to each other and to hydrogen
Biochemistry
The study of the activity and properties of biologically important molecules
Intramolecular
Occurring between atoms within a molecule
Intermolecular
Occurring between atoms of different molecules
Hydrogen Bond
A weak association between an atom partial negative charge and a hydrogen atom with a partial positive charge
Hydrophobic
Referring to non-polar molecules that do not have attractive interactions with water molecules
Hydrophilic
Referring to polar molecules that have attractive interactions with water molecules
Ion
An atom or group of atoms that have gained or lost one or more electrons, giving it a positive or negative charge
Functional Group
An atom or group of atoms attached to a molecule gives the molecule particular chemical and physical properties
Macromolecule
A large, complex molecule, usually composed of repeating units of smaller molecules covalently linked together
Polymer
A large molecule composed of repeating units of smaller molecules(Monomer)
Monomer
The smallest repeating unit of a polymer
Carbohydrate
A biological macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio
Monosaccharide
A carbohydrate is composed of between three and seven carbon atoms
Isomer
One of two or more molecules with the same number and type of atoms but different structural arrangments
Disaccharide
A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides joined by a covalent bond
Polysaccharide
A carbohydrate polymer composed of many monosaccharides joined by covalent bonds between particular atoms
Lipid
A biological macromolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, with a high proportion of non-polar carbon-hydrogen bonds
Triglyceride
A lipid molecule composed of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acids linked by ester bonds
Fatty Acid
A hydrocarbon chain ending in a carboxyl group
Phospholipid
A lipid composed of a glycerol molecule bonded to two fatty acids and a phosphate group with an R group
Lipid bilayer
A structure with hydrophilic “heads” of phospholipids directed toward the aqueous environment and hydrophobic “tails” directed toward the centre, interacting with each other
Steriod
A lipid composed of four attached carbon-based rings
Wax
Lipids composed of long carbon-based chains that are solids at room temperature
Protein
A biological macromolecule composed of amino acid monomers linked by covalent bonds
Amino Acid
An organic molecule composed of a central carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a variable R group
Polypeptide
A polymer composed of many amino acids linked together by covalent bonds
Nucleic Acid
Biological macromolecules composed of nucleotide monomers
DNA(Deoxyribonucleic acid)
A biological macromolecule composed of nucleotides containing the sugar deoxyribose
RNA(Ribonucleic acid)
A biological macromolecule composed of nucleotides containing the sugar ribose
Nucleotide
An organic molecule composed of a sugar bonded to a phosphate group and a nitrogen-containing base
Acid
A substance that produces hydrogen ions, H+, when dissolved in water
Base
A substance that produces hydroxide ions, OH-, when dissolved in water
pH Scale
A numerical scale ranging from 0 to 14 that is used to classify aqueous solutions as acidic, basic or neutral
Neutralization Reaction
A chemical reaction between an acid and a base, producing water and salt
Buffer
A substance that minimizes changes in pH by donating or accepting hydrogen ions as needed
Oxidation
A process involving the loss of electrons
Reduction
A process involving the gain of electrons
Redox Reaction
A chemical reaction that involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, also called an oxidation-reduction reaction
Condensation Reaction
A chemical reaction that results in the formation of a covalent bond between two molecules with the production of a water molecule
Hydrolysis Reaction
A chemical reaction that results in the cleavage of a covalent bond with the addition of a water molecule
Activation Energy
The energy required to initiate a chemical reaction
Catalyst
A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy for the reaction; is not consumed in the reaction
Enzyme
A biological macromolecule that catalyzes or speeds up, chemical reactions in biological systems
Active Site
The site on an enzyme where the substrate binds; where the chemical reaction that is catalyzed by the enzyme takes place
Substrate
A reactant that interacts with the enzyme in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction
Enzyme-Substrate Complex
The combined structure of an enzyme with a substrate that is bound to the enzyme’s active site
Inhibitor
A molecule that binds to the allosteric or active site of an enzyme and causes a decrease in the activity of that enzyme
Allosteric Site
A site on an enzyme that is not the active site, where other molecules can interact with and regulate the activity of the enzyme
Activator
A molecule that binds to the allosteric site of an enzyme and keeps an enzyme active or causes an increase in the activity of that enzyme
