Unit 3: Macromolecules Flashcards
Monomers versus polymers
Mono = 1
Poly = Many
Monomer = 1 Molecule
Polymer= Many of the same molecules bonded together
What is metabolism?
All of the chemical reactions that occur in the body. Many are associated with building and breaking different polymers
What is dehydration synthesis/condensation?
A chemical reaction that links monomers into polymers
Water is removed
What is hydrolysis?
A chemical reaction that breaks polymers into monomers
Water is added
What are the four major types of organic macromolecules?
Carbohydrates
Lipids (fats/oils)
Proteins
Nucleic Acids (DNA)
What are the polymers for these monomers?
Monosaccharide –>
Amino acids –>
Nucleotides –>
Monosaccharide –> Di/Poly-saccharides
Amino acids –> Proteins
Nucleotides –> Nucleic Acids
Do lipids have monomers/polymers?
No! But they are produced using dehydration synthesis
Name examples for monosaccharides and disaccharides:
Monomer: Monosaccharide: single sugar (like glucose)
Polymer: Disaccharide: two sugars (galactose, which is made up of lactose and glucose)
How complex are polysaccharides? What are some examples?
These have over 100 monosaccharides bound together.
Cellulose, chitin, starch, and glycogen
What is considered an energy storing molecule in animals?
Glycogen. When it breaks down into individual glucose molecules, it releases energy
What are traits of lipids?
They are hydrophobic (don’t dissolve in water)
Have nonpolar bonds
Are used for energy storage and cell membranes
Common lipids:
Phospholipids, waxes, steroids, triglycerides, fats, oils
Saturated versus unsaturated?
Saturated has no double bonds
Unsaturated has double bonds
What do proteins do?
The “work” of the body
DNA polymerase
Antibody Immunoglobulin G
Proteins are made up of…
Amino acids
Can be thousands of amino acids long
These can by synthesized or acquired from a diet
What are peptide bonds?
A covalent bond between amino acids, used to form proteins.
A polypeptide is 100+ amino acids bonded together
How many types of protein structures/folding are there?
4; Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, and Quaternary
Describe a 1st degree protein structure:
An amino acid sequence/chain
Ex. Phe-Leu-Ser-Cys
Describe a 2nd degree protein structure:
Folding within a region of the polypeptide into helices/sheets
Can be many secondary structures within the same polypeptide
alpha-helix
beta-sheet
Describe a 3rd degree protein structure:
Interactions between secondary structures create a 3 dimensional structure
Describe a 4th degree protein structure:
Interactions between separate polypeptides make one functional protein
Not all proteins have/need this 4th structure. It depends on if more than one protein is needed for functionality
How can proteins be denatured (structure is changed enough to destroy its function):
Heat
Extreme pH
This is generally irreversable
How do cells know which proteins to make and how to make them?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)
Monomer versus polymer:
Nucleic acid and nucleotides
Nucleotides are monomers
Nucleic acids are polymers
What are the three components of a nucleotide?
A phosphate group
A sugar
A nitrogenous base
RNA characteristics:
Single stranded
Nucleotides are attached by covalent bonds
Sugar is ribose
DNA characteristics:
Double stranded
[Each strand of] Nucleotides are attached by covalent bonds
The two strands are connected to each other by hydrogen bonds at the nitrogenous bases
Sugar is deoxyribose
What does dehydration synthesis do?
Link monomers into polymers
What does hydrolysis do?
Break polymers into monomers
A triglyceride is a _____, and it is mainly used for ________.
lipid, storing/supplying energy
What is an R group?
Any group in which a carbon or hydrogen atom is attached to the rest of the molecule; R groups are a component of amino acids
