Unit 1: Introduction to Macromolecules Flashcards
1
Q
How do the macromolecules contribute to the cell?
A
1) Lipids: cell/organelle membranes
2) Proteins: enzymes, structure
3) Carbohydrates: structure, energy
4) Nucleic acids: DNA, RNA
2
Q
polymer
A
a complex organic molecule made up of repeated simpler units connected by covalent bonds
3
Q
proteins (2)
A
- the key structural and functional molecules that do the work of the cell, providing structural support and catalyzing chemical reactions
- the term “protein” is often used as a synonym for “polypeptide”
4
Q
nucleic acid
A
- polymer of nucleotides that encodes and transmits genetic information
5
Q
carbohydrate
A
- an organic molecule containing C, H, and O atoms that provides a source of energy for metabolism and that forms the starting point for the synthesis of all other organic molecules
6
Q
lipids
A
- a hydrocarbon molecule that is soluble in non-polar solvents but not water
- lipids store energy, act as signalling molecules, and are a component of cell membranes
- loose and diverse group of macromolecules that are based on one or more long chains of carbon and hydrogen (C–C and C–H), defining feature is their hydrophobic region (tail) connected to a hydrophilic region (head)
7
Q
peptide bonds (2)
A
- a covalent bond that links the carbon atom in the carboxyl group of one amino acid to the nitrogen atom in the amino group of another amino acid
- bonds linking protein monomers together and involves the loss of a water molecule
8
Q
phosphodiester bonds (3)
A
- a bond that forms when a phosphate group in one nucleotide is covalently joined to the sugar unit in another nucleotide
- relatively stable bonds and form the backbone of a DNA strand
- bond involves the loss of a water molecule
9
Q
glycosidic bonds
A
- a covalent bond that attaches one monosaccharide to another between the carbon 1 of one monosaccharide and the hydroxyl group carried by a carbon atom in a different monosaccharide molecule
- involves loss of a water molecule
10
Q
What are the the monomers of the macromolecule polymers?
A
- proteins are polymers of amino acids
- nucleic acids are the polymers of nucleotides
- carbohydrates are the polymers of simple sugars or monosaccharides
- lipids are the polymers of fatty acids
11
Q
What is the importance of functional groups to macromolecule polymerization and directionality?
A
- many functional groups are polar, molecules that contain these groups–molecules that would otherwise be nonpolar–become polar (introduce directionality)
- as a result, these molecules become soluble in cell’s aqueous environment and disperse in solution throughout the cell, and become reactive
- reactions joining simpler molecules into polymers usually take place between functional groups
12
Q
What is the general structure of an amino acid?
A
- each amino acid contains a central carbon atoms, called the alpha carbon
- the alpha carbon is covalently linked to four groups: an amino group (–NH2), a carboxyl group (–COOH), a hydrogen atom, and an R group or side chain that differs from one amino acid to the next
13
Q
DNA
A
- genetic material in all organisms
- it is transmitted from parents to offspring and contains the information needed to specify the amino acid sequence of all proteins synthesized in an organism
14
Q
RNA
A
- multiple functions: key player in protein synthesis and the regulation of gene expression
15
Q
What are nucleotides composed of?
A
- a 5-carbon sugar, a nitrogen-containing compound called a base, and one or more phosphate groups
