Cell Processes Flashcards
(147 cards)
What bases are pyrimidines?
Cytosine
Uracil
Thymine
How can you distinguish pyrimidine structures from one another?
Cytosine possesses an NH2 group
Uracil has a CH whilst thymine has a methyl group at the same Carbon
What bases are purines?
Guanine and adenine
How can you distinguish between the structures of purines?
Guanine possesses a C=O bond whereas adenine does not
What is the structural difference between deoxyribose and ribose?
Ribose possesses two OH groups on the same side but deoxyribose only has one
What is the structure of a steroid?
4 cyclic groups (usually 3 hexagons + 1 pentagon)
List the three macromolecule types:
Polysaccharides (carbohydrates)
Proteins
Nucleic acids
What is a macromolecule?
Polymers constructed of identical or similar monomers - very large
What are two ways macromolecules can be made/broken?
Via dehydration or hydrolysis reactions
Are lipids soluble in water? Why?
Lipids are not soluble in water as they are non-polar. This is due to the fact that they are mostly composed of non-polar hydrocarbon chains
What is the structure of a lipid?
Glycerol + 3 long chain fatty acids
How does the structure of a lipid differ from that of a phospholipid?
One of the fatty acids in phospholipids is replaced with a phosphorus group
What is the function of lipids?
Essential component of cell membrane (cholesterol)
Stores energy as fat
What kind of linkages are formed when a lipid is created? What kind of reaction is this!
Dehydration reaction - ester linkages x3
What is the difference between a fully saturated fat and an unsaturated fat?
Saturated - no more h able to bind, straight
Unsaturated - double bonds present, bent
What is a polysaccharide composed of?
Simple sugar monomers
Name 3 simple sugars
Glucose
Galactose
Fructose
What are the names for polysaccharides containing 1 simple sugar, 2 simple sugars and 3+ simple sugars?
1 - monosaccharide
2 - disaccharide
3+ - polysaccharide
Give 3 examples of a disaccharide
Lactose - glucose + galactose
Maltose - glucose + glucose
Sucrose - glucose + fructose
What is a glycosidic linkage?
A bond between a sugar and another group (may be another sugar)
What is the function of a polysaccharide?
Energy storage (glycogen in animals and starch in plants)
Structural function (chitin in animals and cellulose in plants)
What is the structure and function of starch?
Function: energy storage for plants - hydrolysed when needed
Structure: glucose polymer
What is the structure and function of glycogen?
Function: energy storage in animals - hydrolysed when needed
Structure: glucose polymer, more extensively branched than starch
What is the structure and function of cellulose?
Function: Structural building block of plants - can hydrogen bond to others to form myofibrils (as strong building material)
Structure: beta-glucose polymer, never branched, has different glycosidic linkages to starch which results in a distinct 3D shape