Biochemical Basis of Life

Question 1

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

Answer 1

a form of energy cells use to conduct work ATP is the energy plants produce during photosynthesis and respiration

Question 2

aldose

Answer 2

a classification of sugar representing a molecule, which contains one aldehyde group

Question 3

alkane

Answer 3

among the simplest organic compounds alkanes have no carbon double bonds present or are called saturated hydrocarbons; methane is an alkane

Question 4

alkene

Answer 4

among the simplest organic compounds alkenes have a double bond and are unsaturated hydrocarbons; a hydrocarbon’s reactivity and shape is influenced by its degree of saturation

Question 5

allosteric enzyme

Answer 5

the varying shapes it takes control the activity of this enzyme A molecule called the effector initiates shape shifts The effector can activate or inhibit the enzyme

Question 6

amino acid

Answer 6

required for growth and health, this primary element of proteins is synthesized by living cells or obtained through diet

Question 7

anabolic

Answer 7

the macromolecular synthesis or constructive component of metabolism

Question 8

catabolic

Answer 8

the destructive metabolic process involving the release of energy that initiates the breakdown of complex materials

Question 9

disaccharide

Answer 9

the movement of organisms from one continental location to another

Question 10

dehydration synthesis

Answer 10

the process by which a one monomer loses and H atom and another loses an OH atom during the formation of a new bond; also called condensation reaction

Question 11

enzyme kinetics

Answer 11

enzyme kinetics

Question 12

fatty acids

Answer 12

one of the forms of lipids; typically long chains which are non-polar and water-soluble Fats like triglycerides and oils are lipids composed of glycerol and bonded to fatty acid chains

Question 13

feedback inhibitors

Answer 13

the product of enzyme-catalyzed reactions serve as feedback inhibitors for further enzyme activity

Question 14

glycosidic bonds

Answer 14

a bond between an alcohol (a sugar) and another sugar or an amine (base) through a nitrogen or oxygen link Monosaccharides produce polymers by forming glycosidic bonds

Question 15

hemiacetals

Answer 15

compounds produced by the reaction of alcohols with carbonyl groups of ketones and aldehydes

Question 16

hexose

Answer 16

fructose, galactose and glucose serving as primary fuel molecules for eucaryotic cells

Question 17

hydrolysis

Answer 17

a decomposition reaction in which a reactant and water switch functional groups to form a product containing OH and a product containing H

Question 18

hydrophobic

Answer 18

lacking a strong attraction to water, examples include waxes, oils, and fats

Question 19

isomer

Answer 19

molecules with the same chemical formula and frequently the same kinds of bonds betweens atoms, but in which bonds are arranged differently

Question 20

ketose

Answer 20

a fructose or sugar that contains one carbonyl group (ketone) attached to a pair of carbon atoms per molecule

Question 21

metabolic

Answer 21

reaction pathways of metabolism for carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids and energy

Question 22

monomer

Answer 22

a chemical compound capable of polymerization

Question 23

monosaccharides

Answer 23

simple sugars that are the basis of all carbohydrates

Question 24

monounsaturated

Answer 24

a fatty acid or oil which contains a double or triple bond for each molecule

Question 25

nitrogenous bases

Answer 25

single or double ring structures providing connection by bonding to sugars Nitrogenous bases form a system of simple, dependable bonds that support the structure of DNA

Question 26

nucleotide monomers

Answer 26

nucleic acid monomers formed when a nitrogen base is bonded to a phosphate group and a five carbon (pentose) sugar

Question 27

oligosaccharide

Answer 27

a more complex carbohydrate made of two to ten monosaccharide subunits

Question 28

a more complex carbohydrate made of two to ten monosaccharide subunits

Answer 28

compound that uses carbon atoms as the backbone of the structure

Question 29

pentose

Answer 29

a simple sugar or monosaccharide classified based on the five carbon atoms present

Question 30

peptide bond

Answer 30

a chemical bond between nitrogen and carbon in the form of a peptide linkage as part of the structure of a protein

Question 31

phosphodiester bond

Answer 31

the sugar-phosphate bond that serves at the backbone for RNA and DNA

Question 32

polyunsaturated

Answer 32

comprised of multiple double or triple bonds within a molecule of a fatty acid or oil as compared to monounsaturated

Question 33

primary level

Answer 33

polypeptide chains represent the basis of protein structure

Question 34

proteinaceous

Answer 34

being of protein in nature

Question 35

purine

Answer 35

a type of nitrogenous base; the purine bases in DNA and RNA are adenine and guanine

Question 36

pyrimidine

Answer 36

a type of nitrogenous base of which thymine is found in DNA; uridine in RNA; and cytosine in both

Question 37

quaternary structure

Answer 37

a complex grouping of two or more polypeptide chains creating a stable, multi-subunit structure

Question 38

RUBISCO (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase)

Answer 38

enzyme bridges life and lifelessness by creating organic carbon from airborne inorganic carbon dioxide in an extremely slow process

Question 39

secondary structure

Answer 39

in a protein, results from hydrogen bonding between amino acids and a peptide chain The chain twists or folds into the alpha helix and beta pleated sheet shapes

Question 40

steroids

Answer 40

among the many different compounds made up of a 4 ring, 17 carbon system includes glycosides and sterols

Question 41

substrates

Answer 41

the element or substance that is acted upon by an enzyme

Question 42

tertiary structure

Answer 42

results from the hydrophobic effect including the folding of the polypeptide chain due to positioning of polar and non-polar amino acids

Question 43

triose

Answer 43

a simple sugar formed from trihydric alcohol

Question 44

van der Waals interaction

Answer 44

weak bonds or interactions that are a major component of protein structure