Week 2 - Macromolecules, nutrients & metabolism Flashcards
What is an oligosaccharide?
When 2-10 monosaccharides link covalently (glycosidic linkage).
What is the difference between homo and heteropolysaccharides?
Homo are polymers of single polysaccharides whereas hetero and composed of different polysaccharides.
What 2 components make up starch?
Amylose and amylopectin
What are the 4 functions of carbohydrates in living organisms?
- Provide energy
- They offer cells external protection (Cellulose).
- Attached to proteins and lipids, they help cells to recognise molecules or other cells in their surroundings.
- They are part of every building block of nucleic acids (as ribose or deoxyribose).
How can you distinguish a ‘saturated’ from an ‘unsaturated’ fatty acid?
Saturated all carbons are linked by single bonds whereas unsaturated there are double bonds
What is the most abundant lipid category?
Triglycerides
How many vitamins are there, and how are they split?
13 vitamins - split into water and fat soluble
Name the 9 water soluble vitamins
Vitamin B1/thiamine
Vitamin B2/riboflavin
Niacin
Vitamin B6/pyriodoxine
Vitamin B12/cobalamin
Folate
Pantothenate
Biotin
Vitamin C/ascorbate
Name the 4 fat soluble vitamins
Vitamin A/retinol
Vitamin D/cholecalciferol
Vitamin E/a-tocopherol
Vitamin K/phylloquinone
What is metabolism?
The sum of the chemical reactions occurring in a living organism or part of it
What is the ‘free energy’ of a reaction effected by?
Temperature, pressure, initial amounts of reactants and products, and pH.
What is catabolism?
Large molecules -> small molecules (releases energy for synthesis of ATP)
What is anabolism?
Small molecules -> large molecules(Synthesis of molecules)
What are the 3 ways in which molecules/ions can move across membranes?
Simple diffusion
Passive transport/Facilitated diffusion
Active transport
What is saltatory conduction?
Propogation of Aps from one node of ranvier to another - much faster than continuous conduction