Macromolecules Flashcards
4 Types of Macromolecules
1) Carbohydrates
2) Lipids
3) Nucleic Acids
4) Proteins
Macromolecule
A giant molecule formed by the joining of smaller molecules
Polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together by covalent bonds
Monomer
The subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer
Condensation Reaction
AKA Dehydration Synthesis
Reaction that connects a monomer to another monomer or polymer
(2 molecules are covalently bonded with the loss of a water molecule)
–> One molecule donates an H+ and the other donates an OH-
Hydrolysis
Reaction that breaks bonds between 2 molecules through the addition of water
(“breaking with water”)
Carbohydrates
Sugars: Whether that is one or a chain of them
–> Have functions in both energy and structural component of cells
Monosaccharides
AKA Simple Sugars
The monomers of complex carbs
Polysaccharides
The macromolecule of carbohydrates: Complex sugars
Glycosidic Linkage
Covalent bond formed between 2 monosaccharides by a dehydration synthesis
Polysaccharides Uses
1) Energy storage (Ex: starch, glycogen)
2) Structural support (Ex: cellulose, glycoproteins/lipids, chitin)
Carbohydrate Molecular Structure
(C)n (H2O)m –> n: (2:1)m
1) If n = m –> MONO-sugar
2) If n =/ m –> POLY-sugar
Lipids
Any group of large biological molecules that mix poorly, if at all, with water
Includes: fats, phospholipids, steroids
Fatty Acid
Monomer of Lipids
Fatty Acid Structure
A carboxylic acid (-COOH) with a long carbon chain
(they vary in length of chain and #/location of double bonds)
Regions of Fatty Acid
Hydrophobic (fatty) region = The non polar part (carbon chain)
Hydrophilic (acid) region = The polar part (COOH group –> Carboxyl end)
Fat
AKA Triglycerides (containing 3 glycerides)
A lipid consisting of 3 fatty acid chains linked to one glycerol molecule
Glycerol
3 carbon chain: Each carbon has an OH group attached
–> This is where fatty acid chains attach through dehydration synthesis
Ester Linkage
The bond that connects a fatty acid to a glycerol molecule –> (More specifically attaches to one of the glycerides (3) in the glycerol)
–> Attachment through -COOH from FA and -OH from Glyc. (ionize to release water)
POLAR Bonds
Polarity of Fats
NON POLAR
–> Even though the ester linkage region is polar, the majority of the molecule is non-polar due to the long fatty acid chains
= Gives overall molecule non-polar properties
Phospholipids
A glycerol with TWO fatty acid chains and a phosphate group attached (instead of the third fatty acid chain of a fat)
Unsaturated
Fatty acid chain contains an amount of double bonds
–> Doesn’t allow for as close packing of molecules due to the “kinks”
Saturated
Fatty acid chain has ONLY single bonds
–> Allows for close packing of molecules as there are no kinks: stack together well
Phospholipid Structure
Hydrophilic HEAD (where the phosphate is)
Hydrophobic TAIL (where the fatty acids are)
Phospholipid Membranes
1) Phospholipid Bilayer
2) Phospholipid Micelle
Phospholipid Bilayer
Found in life –> In an aqueous environment, phospholipids align themselves in a bilayer (two layers)
–> Hydrophobic TAILS face in towards each other (don’t touch the water)
–> Hydrophilic HEADS face outwards (towards the water)
Phospholipid Micelle
Only produced in labs
–> Phospholipids form a circle with tails facing in and heads facing out
Steroids
AKA Sterols
Lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of FOUR fused rings
–> Different steroids are characterized by differences in che. groups attached to the main rings
–> Precursors to steroid hormones
Cholesterol
BULKY Molecule: A sterol
–> Found in plasma membrane
–> Contributes to membrane fluidity/rigidity
Nucleic Acids
A polymer consisting of many nucleotide monomers
Nitrogenous Bases
A building block of nucleotides: we got 5 of them
1) Adenine (A)
2) Guanine (G)
3) Thymine (T) — DNA
4) Cytosine (C)
5) Uracil (U) — RNA
Purines
TWO Ring Bases
–> Adenine and Guanine
Pyrimidines
ONE Ring Bases
–> Cytosine, Thymine, Uracil
–> Think opposite:
pyrimidine is bigger word = smaller amount of rings
NucleoSIDE
Base + Sugar –> Make up nucleoTIDES
–> Portion of a nucleotide without any phosphate group
DNA Nucleosides
1) Deoxyadenosine
2) Deoxyguanosine
3) Deoxythymidine
4) Deoxycytidine
RNA Nucleosides
1) Adenosine
2) Guanosine
3) Cytidine
4) Uridine
Ribose
RNA sugar (5 carbon sugar)
–> Has a hydroxyl group (-OH) on carbon 2’ (“oxygenated”)
Deoxyribose
DNA Sugar (5 Carbon sugar)
–> Has ONLY a hydrogen atom on carbon 2’ (“Deoxygenated”)