Yr I Chemistry & Biochemistry II Flashcards

1
Q

What are amino acids?

A

Building blocks of proteins

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2
Q

Which 4 elements form amino acids?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen

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3
Q

Which element distinguishes amino acids from fats and carbohydrates?

A

Nitrogen

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4
Q

How many different amino acids does the body need?

A

20

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5
Q

Which 2 groups does each amino acid have?

A

Carboxyl group (acid) COOH
Amino group NH3

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6
Q

What determines the characteristics of each amino acid?

A

Side chain labelled R

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7
Q

How do amino acids join together?

A

Dehydration synthesis (removing water) to create peptide bonds

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8
Q

Name 2 amino acids joined

A

Dipeptide

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9
Q

Name 3 amino acids joined

A

Tripeptide

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10
Q

Example of a harmful dipeptide

A

Aspartame

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11
Q

Why is aspartame harmful

A

Neurotoxin excited brain cells
Carcinogenic

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12
Q

Example of a powerful antioxidant tripeptide?

A

Glutathione

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13
Q

Which 3 amino acids does glutathione contain?

A

L-cysteine
L-glutamate
L-glycine

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14
Q

Which amino acid commonly limits glutathione production?

A

L-cysteine

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15
Q

3 L-cysteine rich foods

A

Legumes
Sunflower seeds
Eggs

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16
Q

What affects the 3d structure of amino acids and therefore their function

A

Th surrounding fluid’s pH

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17
Q

Example of an amino acid changing structure

A

Ceviche - acid turns fish opaque

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18
Q

What can amino acids with acidic side chains do?

A

Release hydrogen ions

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19
Q

What can amino acids with basic side chains do?

A

Bind to hydrogen ions

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20
Q

Which type of amino acid is hydrophobic

A

Non polar amino acids

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21
Q

Which type of amino acid is hydrophilic?

A

Polar

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22
Q

Example of a non-polar (hydrophobic amino acid)

A

Tryptophan - used to produce serotonin to stimulate gut motility and digestive juices

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23
Q

Example of a polar (hydrophilic) amino acid

A

Tyrosine - used to create adrenaline and thyroxine.

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24
Q

What determines the unique shape of a protein?

A

Combination of polar and non polar amino acids

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25
Q

What are haemoglobin, ferritin, albumin, collagen and insulin

A

Types of protein

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26
Q

5 functions of protein

A
  • body structure
  • movement - actin and myosin
  • storage - ferritin
  • carrier - haemoglobin
  • enzyme reactions in the body
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27
Q

2 factors that can denature proteins

A

Heat
Heavy metals

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28
Q

Example of a protein being denature by heat

A

Egg white

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29
Q

What heavy metals can denature proteins in the body

A

Lead and mercury

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30
Q

2 chelating agents that can bind to heavy metals in the body

A

Coriander and chlorella

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31
Q

What does the body use to help digest proteins and break down the peptide bonds in amino acids?

A

Enzymes

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32
Q

What type of reaction can help break the bonds in proteins

A

Hydrolysis

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33
Q

Where does the body start to break down proteins?

A

In the mouth. Chewing increases the surface area

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34
Q

Where does the chemical digestion of proteins begin?

A

In the stomach

35
Q

Which enzymes breaks down long protein chains in the stomach

A

Pepsin

36
Q

Where is pepsin released from

A

Chief cells

37
Q

What is the inactive form of pepsin

A

Pepsinogen

38
Q

What pH does pepsin need?

A

pH 2

39
Q

What triggers the release of pancreatic juices in the small intestine?

A

Hormone called CCK

40
Q

2 proteases in the pancreatic juices

A

Trypsin and chymotrypsin

41
Q

What do longer protein chains get broken down into in the small intestine

A

Tripeptide, dipeptides and single amino acids by brush border enzymes

42
Q

What breaks down amino acids in the small intestine

A

Pancreatic proteases (trypsin and chymotrypsin)
&
Brush border enzymes

43
Q

Where are small peptides and amino acids absorbed into from the digestive tract?

A

The blood

44
Q

2 most common nucleic acids

A

DNA deoxyribonnucleic acid
RNA ribonucleic acid

45
Q

What are the building blocks of nucleic acids called?

A

Nucleotides

46
Q

3 x parts of a nucleotide?

A

Phosphate group
Sugar
Nitrogenous base

47
Q

What is the function of nucleic acid?

A

Store genetic information

48
Q

What cell does not contain dNa

A

Red blood cell

49
Q

How long would a dna molecule be?

A

2m

50
Q

What does DNA act as a template for?

A

Protein synthesis

51
Q

What does RNA do?

A

Copy specific sections of DNA called genes

52
Q

How many genes in a human genome (complete set of DNA)

A

20-25k

53
Q

What is the human genome?

A

Complete set of DNA

54
Q

What is deoxyribose

A

5-carbon sugar

55
Q

What are the 4 nucleotide bases in DNA

A

Adenine
Thymine

Guanine
Cytosine

56
Q

Which 2 nucleotide bases are purines

A

Adenine
Guanine

57
Q

What does Cytosine pair with

A

Guanine

58
Q

What does adenine pair with

A

Thymine

59
Q

What is the structure of DNA called?

A

Double helix

60
Q

What are the 2 types of bond in a stand of DNA

A

Carbon bond (middle of the ladder)
Convalent bond

61
Q

How can DNA unzip during protein synthesis?

A

Because the hydrogen bonds are much weaker than the covalent bonds

62
Q

How many strands of nucleotides does RNA have?

A

1

63
Q

What is the name of the sugar RNA is made from?

A

Ribose

64
Q

What is the name of the process when messenger RNA copies a recipe from DNA

A

Transcription

65
Q

What is the name for when the ribosome produces a protein

A

Translation

66
Q

Examples of proteins in the body

A

Muscle tissue and enzymes

67
Q

What is DNA condensed to form?

A

Chromosomes

68
Q

What are the end sections of dna called?

A

Telomeres

69
Q

What are telomeres?

A

End sections of dna

70
Q

What shortens telomeres?

A

Aging
Stress
Poor nutrition
Negative thoughts

71
Q

Herb that’s been shown to reduce telomere shortening

A

Gotu kola

72
Q

What is a mutation?

A

Change in dna sequence

73
Q

What can a dna mutation cause?

A

Change in the sequence of amino acids in the protein which can impact shape and function

74
Q

What happens to dna in sickle cell anaemia

A

Proteins in haemoglobin become abnormally shaped

75
Q

How is haemophilia linked to gene expression?

A

Mutations in genes linked to clotting factors 8 and 9

76
Q

What is the link between cancer and gene mutations?

A

Mutations occur due to factors such as radiation, medications, stress and chemicals

77
Q

Which genes do cancer genetic mutations impact?

A

Genes that code for proteins involved in regulating cell division

78
Q

What is gene expression

A

Whether we copy the gene and make the protein or not

79
Q

Which can we change? Our genes or our gene expression

A

Gene expression - whether we copy the gene or not

80
Q

Nutrients that influence if a gene is copied

A

Vitamin A
Vitamin D
Essential fatty acids
Zinc
Fibre

81
Q

How can fibre impact gene expression

A

By affecting hormone levels and the metabolites created when intestinal floral feed on fibre

82
Q

What environment do we bathe our genes in that can promote cancer?

A

Acid
Glucose rich
Anaerobic

83
Q

Environment that can inhibit healthy gene expression

A

Lack of oxygen
Stress
Drugs

84
Q

Why might someone eating lots of beta carotene rich foods be deficient in vitamin A

A

Could be genetics