Unit 1 (Biochemistry) - Chapter 1 Flashcards
What functional groups make up the fatty acids?
hydroxyl and carboxyl
What is a complex carbohydrate? Provide examples of the two types.
(1.4)
○ a molecule that is composed of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides linked together
○ Some complex carbohydrates are important for energy storage in cells, while others are essential for structural support
Examples:
storage - starch and glycogen
structural - cellulose and chitin
What are the 5 main categories of lipids?
(1.4)
fatty acids, fats, phospholipids steroids and waxes
What are the two major biochemical roles of carbohydrates?
(1.4)
○ Energy and Digestion.
- Most types of carbohydrates, such as starch and sugar, break down into glucose
- which is the simplest form of carbohydrate and your body’s primary source of energy.
What is a fat?
(1.4)
A fat is a lipid that is made from two types of molecules: fatty acid and a glycerol molecule
What is polarity?
(1.1)
○ partial positive or negative charge at ends of a molecule
What are unsaturated fats?
(1.4)
○ a lipid that is composed of unsaturated fatty acids with double bonds in their hydrocarbon chain
○ generally referred to as oils
○ Liquid at room temperature
What is the structure of a triglyceride?
a fat; three fatty acid chains linked to a glycerol molecule through dehydration synthesis
What are all the functions of Carbohydrates?
(1.4)
○ energy sources for the body
○ structural support
○ cell to cell communication
○ raw material to build amino acids, lipids and nucleic acids
○ performs many complex functions in cells
What is a polar covalent bond? (1.1)
(1.4)
○ a bond between two atoms, made up of unequally shared electrons
Distinguish among: monosaccharides, disaccharides, oligosaccharides and polysaccharides in terms of structure. State examples.
(1.4)
○ Monosaccharides:
are the simplest form of carbohydrates consisting of a single sugar unit
- E.g. glucose, fructose and galactose
○ Disaccharides are a carbohydrate molecule that is made from two sugars covalently bonded monosaccharide units joined together by a dehydration synthesis reaction
- E.g. maple syrup, lactose, sucrose
○ Oligosaccharides is a term used to describe carbohydrates consisting of a small number of monosaccharides with a carbon number of 2-10 (including disaccharides)
- E.g. sucrose, lactose and maltose
○ Polysaccharides are a complex carbohydrate that contains many sugars covalently attached
- E.g. cellulose, plant starches, glycogen, etc.
○ Very polar and hydrophilic, however cannot dissolve in water
What is polymerization? (1.4)
○ a process in which small subunits called monomers are linked to form a polymer (a larger molecule)
What are lipids? (1.4)
○ a non-polar compound that is mostly made of carbon and hydrogen
○ they do not dissolve in water
What is a carbohydrate?
(1.4)
○ A biomolecule that consists of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen
○ Plays a role in structural support and cell-to-cell communication
What is a complex carbohydrate? (1.4)
○ a molecule that is composed of hundreds to thousands of monosaccharides linked together
○ Some complex carbohydrates are important for energy storage in cells, while others are essential for structural support
Examples:
storage - starch and glycogen
strucutral - cellulose amd chiin
What is Cellulose? What is its structure and functions?
(1.4)
- The main component of plant cell walls and the most organic molecule on Earth
- Cellulose molecules are long and straight and have very large number of polar OH groups)
What are the three functional groups associated with carbohydrates?
(1.4)
hydroxyl, aldehyde and ketone
Under what conditions is a fatty acid said to be saturated? Unsaturated?
(1.4)
- Saturated - If all the carbons are linked to each other with single bonds
- Unsaturated - double bonds
a) Why are unsaturated fats liquid at room temperature?
b) Why are saturated fats solid at room temperature?
(1.4)
a) Unsaturated fats have a kink in their molecule (because of the double bond), causing it to bend, which means that they cannot be as tightly packed as saturated fats
b) Saturated fats are solids because their chains are long and straight and can be packed closely together to form a solid structure at room temp.
Identify the general structure of a carbohydrate in terms of elements and generic formula.
(1.4)
○ Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen,
Oxygen
○ General Formula: (CH2O)n
Distinguish between monomers, polymers and oligomers
○ Monomers are small molecules that can bind chemically to other molecules, single units
- e.g. nucleotides, polypropene, etc.
○ Polymers are large molecules that are covalently bonded to monomers
- e.g. DNA, nylon, polyethylene, etc.
○ Oligomers are 2-10 monomers covalently bonded
- e.g. acrylic, polyester
What are saturated fats?
(1.4)
○ a lipid that is composed of saturated fatty acids with single bonds in their hydrocarbon chain
○ fats that are obtained from animals such as butter or lard
What are fatty acids? (1.4)
a molecule that consists of a carboxyl group and a hydrocarbon chain
What is a glycosidic bond? (1.4)
○ a bond between two monosaccharides ‘
○ Linkages are designated as alpha or beta