intro to macromolecules Flashcards
carbon-based molecules are called …
organic compounds
compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen are called …
hydrocarbons
a carbon skeleton is a chain of carbon atoms that can differ in length and be:
straight
branched
contain double bonds
arranged in rings
the length, branching, bonding and ring structures are important because they …
change the properties of the molecules
what are isomers ?
are molecules with the same chemical formula, but atoms are arranged differently
structural isomers are when …
atoms are rearranged
cis-trans isomers are when there …
is orientation around a double bond
optical isomers are when there …
is orientation around a chiral carbon
optical isomers occur when …
a carbon atom has 4 different atoms or groups attached to it
what are the six chemical groups which are important for the chemistry of life ?
hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amino, phosphate and methyl
what are the features of the hydroxyl group ?
functional group
can change the properties of molecule significantly
polar
hydrophilic (can dissolve in water)
what are the features of the carbonyl group ?
functional group
can change the properties of molecule significantly
polar
hydrophilic (can dissolve in water)
what are the features of the carboxyl group ?
functional group
can change the properties of the molecule significantly
polar
hydrophilic (can dissolve in water)
OH will completely dissociate to make an acid solution
what are the features of the amino group ?
functional group
can chnage the properties of the molecule significantly
polar
hydrophilic (can dissolve in water)
will form an alkali solution)
what are the features of the phosphate group ?
functional group
can change the properties of the molecule significantly
polar
hydrophilic (can dissolve in water)
key part of molecules responsible for energy transfer
what are the features of the methyl group ?
structural backbone of all biological macromolecules
non-polar
hydrophobic (does not dissolve in water)
addition or removal of methyl groups at key positions of a molecule can have a dramatic effect
e.g. methylation of DNA can turn gene expression on/off
what are the 4 classes of biological macromolecule ?
proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids
are all monomers identical ?
no-they can be identical or just similar
what are the features of an amino acid ?
they are a chiral compound
contain amino and carboxyl group
side chain can be 1 of 20 options and this dictates the properties
what are the features of carbohydrates ?
they are a chiral compound
variety in the size of ring (can be 3,5 or 6 carbons)
what are the features of a nucleic acid ?
chiral compound
sugar can be ribose or deoxyribose
amine can be 1 of 5 options
what do lipids vary in ?
chain length, number of double bonds, location of double bonds and the cis/trans configuration of double bonds
monomers are linked together to form polymers through …
dehydration reactions
dehydration reactions remove…
hydrogen and oxygen to form water
