Amino Acid Flashcards
(19 cards)
Describe structure and function of glycogen
Main storage polymer of a glucose in animals.
1,4 but also 1,6 glycosidic bonds.
Branched so many terminal ends for hydrolysis.
Insoluble so no osmotic effect and doesn’t not diffuse out of cells.
Compact.
Describe structure and function of starch
Storage polymer of a glucose in plant cells.
Insoluble so no osmotic effect on cells.
Large so doesn’t diffuse out of cells.
Amylose:
Compact with 1,4
Amylopectin:
Branched with 1,4 and 1,6
Describe structure and function of cellulose
Polymer of B glucose which gives rigidity to cell walls.
1,4 bonds and is unbranched.
Alternate glucose molecules twisted 180 degrees.
Hydrogen bonds parallel across strands forms fibrils.
Contrast saturated and unsaturated fatty acids
Single bonds and double bonds.
Straight and kinked chain.
Found in animal fat or plant oil.
Relating structure of triglycerides to function.
High energy:mass ratio so high energy storage.
Insoluble hydrocarbon chain so does not effect water potential.
Slow conducted of heat so thermal insulator.
Why is water polar?
O is more electronegative then H and attracts the electron density.
Where are inorganic ions found?
Cytoplasm or extracellular fluid.
Role of iron ions in the body
Fe2+ bonds bonds to form haem groups which can unload and load with oxygen.
Role of DNA in living cells?
Base sequence of genes code for functional RNA and amino sequences for polypeptides.
Genetic information determines inherited characteristics.
Role of mRNA in living cells
Complementary sequence to one gene from DNA with introns.
Role of rRNA in living cells
Component of ribosomes
Role of tRNA in living cells
Supplies complimentary amino acids to mRNA codons during translation
Structure of DNA related to functions
Long molecules so stores lots of information
Helix is compact for storage in nucleus.
Base sequence triplets codes for amino acids.
Double stranded for semi-conservative replication.
Process of semi-conservative replication
DNA helices breaks hydrogen bonds between base pairs.
Each strand acts as a template.
Free nucleotides attach by complimentary base pairing.
DNA polymerase catalyses condensation reaction.
Hydrogen bonds reform.
Role of ATP in cells
Energy released coupled to metabolic reactions.
Phosphate group phosphorylates compounds.
What catalyses synthesis of ATP
ATP synthase
Why is ATP ‘energy currency’?
High energy bonds between phosphate groups.
Small energy released at one time.
Single set hydrolysis.
Readily synthesised.
What are enzymes?
Biological catalysts which lower activation energy with formation of ES
