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Biology AS > F212 1.1 - Biological Molecules > Flashcards

F212 1.1 - Biological Molecules Flashcards

1
Q

Acidic

A

A molecule which tends to ionize in water to release protons and lower pH

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2
Q

Adhesion

A

The intermolecular attraction between unlike-molecules

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3
Q

Amphipathic

A

A molecule with dual properties such as a hydrophobic section at one end and a hydrophilic section at the other

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4
Q

Amphoteric

A

A chemical which can act as both an acid and a base e.g. an amino acid.

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5
Q

Anion

A

A negatively charged ion with more electrons than protons

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6
Q

Atom

A

The smallest division of an element exhibiting all the properties of the element

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7
Q

Atomic number

A

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom of an element. The atomic number determines the position of the element in the periodic table

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8
Q

Basic

A

A molecule which tends to become charged in water by accepting protons and thus raise pH

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9
Q

Buffer

A

Any substance that by virtue of its own acid/base properties is able to resist an applied pH change by taking up hydrogen ions if some are added or releasing them in response to the addition of a base

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10
Q

Cation

A

A positively charged ion with more protons than electrons

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11
Q

Chromatography

A

A technique for separating molecules according to their solubility

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12
Q

Cohesion

A

The intermolecular attraction between like-molecules

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13
Q

Compound

A

A molecule containing two or more different elements, chemically combined

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14
Q

Covalent bond

A

A bond in which a pair of electrons is shared between 2 atoms in a molecule

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15
Q

Denaturation

A

A process whereby some agency such as temperature or pH disrupts the normal balance of forces maintaining the higher order structure of a macromolecule to the extent that the weak forces are overcome and the structure collapses and loses function. It is sometimes irreversible. Often used when talking about enzymes

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16
Q

Double bond

A

Two bonds consisting of 2 pairs of electrons shared between the same 2 atoms

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17
Q

Electron

A

A negatively charged particle with defined charge, mass and spin forming part of an atom

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18
Q

Electron shells

A

The way electrons are arranged around an atom. Each shell can hold a specific number of electrons

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19
Q

Electrophoresis

A

A technique for separating molecules according to their size and electrical charge

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20
Q

Element

A

One of over 100 fundamental substances that cannot be chemically broken down into any others

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21
Q

Empirical formula

A

The simplest way in which the elemental composition of a molecule can be represented

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22
Q

Endergonic

A

A reaction which uses energy

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23
Q

Endothermic

A

A reaction which uses heat energy

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24
Q

Exergonic

A

A reaction which releases energy

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25
Q

Exothermic

A

A reaction which releases energy as heat

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26
Q

Hydrogen bond

A

A weak attractive force between a slightly positively-charged hydrogen atom (∂+) covalently bonded to a more electronegative atom and another nearby negatively or partially-negatively charged atom (∂-)

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27
Q

Hydrophilic

A

“Water-loving”. A property of polar molecules able to interact with/participate in the hydrogen bonding network of water molecules leading to solubility in water

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28
Q

Hydrophobic effect

A

“Water-fearing”. An effect created by the tendency of water molecules to form extensive hydrogen bonding networks so that non-polar groups are excluded and therefore cluster together away from water

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29
Q

Ion

A

A charged particle

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30
Q

Ionic bond

A

A force of electrostatic attraction between ions of opposite charge

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31
Q

Isotope

A

One of two or more forms of an element differing in the number of neutrons in the nucleus

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32
Q

Mass number

A

The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom of an element

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33
Q

Mixture

A

Two or more chemical elements mixed together but not chemically combined

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34
Q

Neutron

A

An uncharged particle forming part of an atomic nucleus

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35
Q

Non-polar

A

A molecule or group which is not electrically charged and is hydrophobic

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36
Q

Oxidation

A

The loss of electrons

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37
Q

pH

A

A measure of the relative acidity/alkalinity of a solution numerically equal to the negative logarithm to the base ten of the hydrogen ion concentration with pH 7 being the neutral point. A pH above 7 is alkaline, below 7 is acidic

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38
Q

Polar

A

A molecule or group which is electrically charged and is hydrophilic

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39
Q

Proton

A

A positively charged particle forming part of an atomic nucleus

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40
Q

Radioisotope

A

An isotope in which the nucleus is unstable and will undergo radioactive decay

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41
Q

Reduction

A

The gain of electrons

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42
Q

Single bond

A

A bond consisting of 1 pair of electrons shared between the same 2 atoms

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43
Q

Solute

A

A chemical which dissolves in a solvent to form a solution

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44
Q

Solvent

A

A chemical in which other molecules dissolve to form a solution

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45
Q

Triple bond

A

Three bonds consisting of 3 pairs of electrons shared between the same 2 atoms

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46
Q

Valency

A

The combining capacity of an element, the number of bonds an atom can make with other atoms. The electron configuration determines valency

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47
Q

Van der Waals’ force

A

A weak force between neutral atoms and molecules resulting from electron movements creating short-lived dipoles which can then induce/interact with others

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48
Q

X-ray crystallography/diffraction

A

A technique for working out the 3D structure and arrangement of atoms in a molecule using an X-ray beam passing through a crystal of the compound. Used to find out the higher order structure of protein and nucleic acids

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49
Q

Amine group

A

-NH2

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50
Q

Anabolism

A

The build-up chemical reactions in an organism (adjective = anabolic)

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51
Q

ATP

A

Adenosine triphosphate, often described as the energy currency of the cell

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52
Q

Biochemistry

A

The study of chemical processes within, and relating to, living organisms.

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53
Q

Carboxyl group

A

-COOH

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54
Q

Catabolism

A

The break-down chemical reactions in an organism (adjective = catabolic)

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55
Q

Complementary

A

A term used to describe two molecules whose shape and charges enable them to fit together e.g. an enzyme and its substrate, an antibody and an antigen

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56
Q

Condensation

A

A type of reaction in which monomers are joined together with the loss of a water molecule forming a new covalent bond linking the monomers (or joining monomers to a growing polymer)

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57
Q

Dimer

A

Two monomers joined together

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58
Q

Dipole

A

A molecule with a positively and negatively charged regions

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59
Q

Hydrocarbon

A

A molecule or group containing only carbon and hydrogen

60
Q

Hydrolysis

A

A type of reaction in which polymers etc. are separated into monomers by breaking a covalent bond with the addition of a water molecule each time a monomer is removed or a larger polymer is split into 2 smaller ones

61
Q

Hydroxyl group

A

-OH

62
Q

Kinetic energy

A

Energy due to motion

63
Q

Macromolecule

A

A large molecule usually composed of multiple monomers condensed together to produce a product with very different properties

64
Q

Metabolism

A

The chemical reactions in an organism

65
Q

Methyl group

A

-CH3

66
Q

Monomer

A

A single unit from which dimers, trimers and polymers can be built

67
Q

Oligomer

A

Several monomers joined together

68
Q

Organic compound

A

A compound based on a carbon skeleton, usually chains or rings

69
Q

Polymer

A

Lots of monomers joined together

70
Q

Thiol/sulphydryl group

A

-SH

71
Q

Variable group

A

-R

72
Q

Capillarity (Water)

A

The ability of a liquid such as water to flow in narrow spaces e.g. water moving up a narrow tube.

73
Q

Heat capacity (Water)

A

The amount of heat needed to raise 1kg of a substance by 1oC. Water has a high heat capacity which means a large increase in heat energy is needed to raise the temperature of water

74
Q

Heat of fusion (Water)

A

The heat energy needed to melt a solid. Water needs a large amount of heat energy to melt but equally it needs to lose a lot of heat energy to freeze. This means, when it gets cold, cells and their environment are less likely to freeze

75
Q

Heat of vaporization (Water)

A

The heat energy needed to vaporize a liquid, for it to evaporate. Water takes a lot of heat energy to evaporate which is why it’s a good coolant

76
Q

Solvent (Water)

A

A chemical in which other molecules dissolve to form a solution. Water is the main solvent in living organisms

77
Q

Surface tension (Water)

A

The cohesive forces at the surface of a liquid. Water has a higher surface tension than any other liquid

78
Q

α-helix (Proteins)

A

One of the two common secondary structures found in proteins whereby the primary sequence adopts a coiled shape with hydrogen bonds parallel to the helix axis to give an almost solid rod

79
Q

Amino acid (Proteins)

A

An organic chemical consisting of a central carbon covalently bonded to a hydrogen atom, an amine group, a carboxylic acid group and a side-chain or R group of variable composition which forms a monomer for polypeptide and protein construction

80
Q

β-pleated sheet (Proteins)

A

One of the two common secondary structures found in proteins whereby the primary sequence adopts a series of parallel or anti-parallel alignments with hydrogen bonds between the strands to give a corrugated sheet form.

81
Q

Biuret test (Proteins)

A

A standard chemical test for the detection of a protein in aqueous alkaline solution whereby a purple colour is developed in the presence of a copper salt

82
Q

C terminal (Proteins)

A

The end of a polypeptide chain with a carboxyl group

83
Q

Collagen (Proteins)

A

The trimeric fibrous protein found in tendons, blood vessel walls, basement membranes etc. responsible for providing mechanical strength to tissues

84
Q

Conjugated protein (Proteins)

A

A protein bonded to a non-protein group (prosthetic group) e.g. a glycoprotein or a lipoprotein

85
Q

Dipeptide (Proteins)

A

Two amino acids linked together by a peptide bond formed by a condensation reaction

86
Q

Disulphide bond (Proteins)

A

A special type of covalent bond formed at tertiary and quaternary levels of protein structure to provide additional stability in extracellular proteins. It forms by the oxidation of two thiol or sulphydryl (-SH) groups on the side chain of cysteine amino acids

87
Q

Essential amino acid (Proteins)

A

An amino acid which must be present in the diet and cannot be made in the body

88
Q

Fibrous protein (Proteins)

A

A protein whose higher order structure results in a product with a high axial ratio (long helices or flat sheets) often with a high content of hydrophobic amino acids causing insolubility so they have mainly structural roles

89
Q

First class protein (Proteins)

A

A protein containing all of the 9 essential amino acids

90
Q

Globular protein (Proteins)

A

A protein whose higher order structure results in a product with a low axial ratio (roughly spherical). e.g. haemoglobin

91
Q

Glycoprotein (Proteins)

A

A protein with carbohydrate molecule(s) attached

92
Q

Glucagon (Proteins)

A

The polypeptide hormone secreted by the α cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas responsible for maintaining the blood glucose concentration between meals

93
Q

Haem (Proteins)

A

The iron-containing prosthetic group in haemoglobin

94
Q

Haemoglobin (Proteins)

A

The tetrameric globular protein found in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen molecules reversibly bound to its 4 haem groups from respiratory surfaces to respiring tissues

95
Q

Insulin (Proteins)

A

The protein hormone secreted by the β cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas responsible for reducing circulating blood glucose concentrations after a meal

96
Q

Keratin (Proteins)

A

A fibrous protein found in skin, hair and nails

97
Q

N terminal (Proteins)

A

The end of a polypeptide chain with an amine group

98
Q

Non-essential amino acid (Proteins)

A

An amino acid which doesn’t have to be in the diet as it can be made from other amino acids (11 of the 20 commonly occurring amino acids are non- essential)

99
Q

Peptide bond (Proteins)

A

The type of bond formed by the loss of a water molecule when 2 amino acids are joined together by condensing the carboxylic acid group of one with the amino group of the other. Found in proteins

100
Q

Polypeptide (Proteins)

A

Many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds formed by successive condensation reactions. Longer polypeptides are usually called proteins

101
Q

Primary structure (Proteins)

A

The number and sequence in which amino acids are condensed together to form a polypeptide or protein

102
Q

Prosthetic group (Proteins)

A

An organic non-protein molecule that is bonded to a protein to give a functional molecule

103
Q

Quaternary structure (Proteins)

A

This occurs when separate polypeptide chains associate to form more complex structures as a result of further interactions between the chains using the same forces as those seen at the tertiary level

104
Q

Second class protein (Proteins)

A

A protein containing only some of the 9 essential amino acids

105
Q

Secondary structure (Proteins)

A

A regular, repetitive folding pattern adopted by the primary structure of a protein or nucleic acid and stabilized by co-operative hydrogen bonding between elements of the polypeptide chain peptide bonds or specific pairs of organic nitrogenous bases. Usually takes the form of an alpha-helix or beta-pleated sheet in proteins or helices in nucleic acids

106
Q

Tertiary structure (Proteins)

A

The overall 3-dimensional folding pattern of a polypeptide chain incorporating secondary structures (where present) and stabilized by a variety of weak forces such as hydrogen and ionic bonds, Van der Waals forces and hydrophobic effects

107
Q

Zwitterion (Proteins)

A

The state of an amino acid when the amine group is positively charged, NH3+ and the carboxyl group is negatively charged –COO-

108
Q

Benedict’s test (Carbohydrates)

A

A standard chemical test for the detection of a reducing sugar in a boiling solution whereby copper ions are reduced from soluble blue form to insoluble reddish-brown

109
Q

Carbohydrate (Carbohydrates)

A

Any of a class of compound containing C,H and O in the ratio Cx(H2O)y

110
Q

Cellulose (Carbohydrates)

A

The insoluble structural polysaccharide of glucose found in plants consisting of bundles of linear molecules which provide the chief component of most plant cell walls

111
Q

Deoxyribose (Carbohydrates)

A

The pentose found in DNA

112
Q

Disaccharide (Carbohydrates)

A

A molecule formed by the condensation of two monosaccharides

113
Q

Fructose (Carbohydrates)

A

A common hexose found in the disaccharide sucrose

114
Q

Galactose (Carbohydrates)

A

A hexose found in the disaccharide lactose

115
Q

Glucose (Carbohydrates)

A

The most common hexose

116
Q

Glycogen (Carbohydrates)

A

The insoluble storage polysaccharide of glucose found in animals and fungi

117
Q

Glycosidic bond (Carbohydrates)

A

The type of bond formed by the loss of a water molecule when 2 monosaccharides are joined together by condensation between 2 –OH groups. Found in carbohydrates

118
Q

Hexose (Carbohydrates)

A

A monosaccharide with six carbon atoms

119
Q

Iodine solution test (Carbohydrates)

A

A test for starch. Turns from red-brown to blue-black in the presence of starch

120
Q

Lactose (Carbohydrates)

A

The disaccharide found in milk. It contains glucose and galactose and is reducing

121
Q

Maltose (Carbohydrates)

A

A dissacharide found in grains such as barley. Contains two α glucose residues and is reducing

122
Q

Monosaccharide (Carbohydrates)

A

These are monomers or simple sugars with only one copy of the basic carbohydrate structural unit. They are all reducing sugars

123
Q

Non-reducing sugar (Carbohydrates)

A

A sugar which cannot act as an electron donor

124
Q

Pentose (Carbohydrates)

A

A monosaccharide with five carbon atoms

125
Q

Polysaccharide (Carbohydrates)

A

A molecule formed by the condensation of many monosaccharides. In most biological polymers of this type the monomers are all glucose

126
Q

Reducing sugar (Carbohydrates)

A

Simple sugars are reducing if they can act as electron donors in redox reactions. The usual distinguishing test is with Benedict’s reagent in which copper ions can be reduced from Cu2+ (blue) to Cu+ (red) on boiling with a reducing sugar

127
Q

Ribose (Carbohydrates)

A

The pentose found in RNA

128
Q

Ribulose (Carbohydrates)

A

The pentose associated with the Calvin cycle in photosynthesis

129
Q

Sucrose (Carbohydrates)

A

The commonest disaccharide often referred to simply as sugar. It contains glucose and fructose and is non-reducing

130
Q

Starch (Carbohydrates)

A

The insoluble storage polysaccharide of glucose found in plants consisting of linear amylose and branched amylopectin

131
Q

Triose (Carbohydrates)

A

A monosaccharide with three carbon atoms

132
Q

Cholesterol (Lipids)

A

A fat-soluble steroid alcohol widely distributed in animal tissues forming an important component of animal membranes and acting as the starting point for the synthesis of a range of compounds such as steroid hormones e.g. testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone

133
Q

Emulsion test (Lipids)

A

A standard chemical test for the detection of a lipid in an organic solvent whereby the addition of water causes the formation of a white emulsion as the lipid is driven out of solution

134
Q

Ester bond (Lipids)

A

The type of bond formed by the loss of a water molecule when an alcohol is joined to a carboxylic acid by a condensation reaction. Found in lipids and phospholipids

135
Q

Fat (Lipids)

A

A lipid which is solid at room temperature

136
Q

Fatty acid (Lipids)

A

A molecule consisting of a fatty hydrocarbon( i.e. containing only C and H atoms) chain terminating in a carboxylic acid group (-COOH)

137
Q

Glycolipid (Lipids)

A

A lipid with carbohydrate molecule(s) attached

138
Q

Glycerol (Lipids)

A

An alcohol forming a key component of triglycerides and phospholipids

139
Q

Lipid (Lipids)

A

Any of a wide variety of compounds (such as triglycerides or steroids) extractable from living organisms and which are more soluble in non-polar solvents than water

140
Q

Oil (Lipids)

A

A lipid which is liquid at room temperature

141
Q

Phospholipid (Lipids)

A

A molecule consisting of two fatty acids, a glycerol and a phosphate all covalently bonded together by ester bonds most commonly found in membranes

142
Q

Saturated fatty acid (Lipids)

A

A fatty acid with no carbon-carbon double bonds

143
Q

Steroid (Lipids)

A

A lipid with 4 connected rings e.g. cholesterol

144
Q

Triglyceride (Lipids)

A

A molecule consisting of three fatty acids and a glycerol held together by covalent (ester) bonds.

145
Q

Unsaturated fatty acid (Lipids)

A

A fatty acid with one or more carbon-carbon double bonds

Biology AS (12 decks)

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