Biological Molecules Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the definition of a monomer?
Small units which create larger molecule
What is the definition of a polymer?
lots of monomers bonded together
Name some monomers and polymers they can create
- Glucose - starch
- Amino acid - protein
- Nucleotide - DNA, RNA
Name some polymers.
- Starch
- Glycogen
- Cellulose
What is a condensation reaction?
Joining two molecules, creating a chemical bond by removing water.
What is a hydrolysis reaction?
Breaks chemical bond between two molecules, using water.
What do carbohydrates contain?
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
Carbohydrates can be monosaccharides, disaccharide and polysaccharide, what does that mean.
Monosaccharide - one sugar unit
Disaccharide - two sugar unit
Polysaccharide - 3+ sugar unit
Examples of monosaccharides
- Glucose
- Fructose
- Galactose
Glucose is an isomer, what does that mean?
Same molecular formula (C⁶H¹²O⁶) but different structure
What are the two isomers of glucose? Draw them.
Alpha glucose
Beta glucose
How is a disaccharide formed?
Two monosaccharides joined together by glycosidic bond
Formed by condensation reaction
(Glycosidic bond 1,4 which means bonds between carbon 1 and carbon 4)
Examples of disaccharides.
- Glucose + Glucose — Maltose + water
- Glucose + Galactose — Lactose + water
- Glucose + Fructose — sucrose + water
What are polysaccharides?
Created by condensation reaction between many monomers (Glucose)
Examples Of polysaccharides.
- Starch
- Cellulose
- Glycogen
Structure and function of Starch
Found in chloroplast in plant cells and is made of a-glucose.
Two types of a-glucose; amylose which has 1,4 GB and is unbranched chain coils that form helixs and amylopectin 1,6 GB branched polymer.
A good storage molecule as it is insoluble.
Structure and function of cellulose.
Found in the cell wall of plants and is made of b-glucose. Provides structural support to the cell, long straight chains of b-glucose held by hydrogen bonds which make fibril
Structure and function of Glycogen.
Found in animals (liver and muscle) and stores glucose. Made out of a-glucose 1,6 and1,4 glycosidic bond (GB). Insoluble and compact. Highly branched polymer- increases surface area for rapid hydrolysis back to glucose and insoluble which doesn’t affect osmosis.
