Introduction to biological molecules Flashcards
(37 cards)
Explain Ionic bonding?
Ionic bonding is the gain and loss of electrons between a metal and non-metal atom joining to have an increased stability
Ionic bonds are joined together by very weal electrostatic interactions, making them very double in water
Why is maintaining the ion concentration critical?
Maintaining the ion concentration is critical as the cell must be able to maintain a balance of ion charge difference. If this is lost the cell can become turgid and burst or flaccid and die
Give features of covalent bonds
Covalent bonds;
- Electrons are being shared
- Can be one from each atom or more
- Stronger than an ionic bond
Give features of polar bonds?
Polar bonds;
- Not all electrons are shared equally which creates a slightly positive and negative side allowing for electrostatic interactions
Give features of hydrogen bonding ?
Hydrogen bonding;
Hydrogen is slightly charged and attracted to molecules that are slightly negatively charged, creating a weak intermolecular force of attraction.
Give features of Van Der Waals forces?
Vander waals forces;
- Very weak interaction
- Relatively transient (last for a short period of time)
- They determine how close individual atoms can get to one another, determining the overall 3D shape of a molecule
- The nucleus is surrounded by electrons that are constantly cycling, however they can have more electrons on one side than the other creating a negative charge. Causing neighbouring atoms to repel or attract.
Give some intermolecular bonding?
- Disulphide bridge
- Hydrogen bonding
- Hydrophobic interactions
What is the general structure for sugars?
(CH2O)n - 1 Carbon, 2 Hydrogen and 1 Oxygen
What is the function of sugar within a cell?
Sugar is a source of energy for a cell
Why can’t the same enzyme breakdown both glucose and galactose?
Enzymes can detect small differences in structures
What is sugar a form of?
Sugar is a form of carbohydrate
What is it called when 2 different sugars are joined together?
When 2 different sugars are joined together they are referred to as a Disaccharide molecule
Why might sugars be joined together?
Sugars can be joined together in long chains for storage to be consumed later when sugar is required
what are 1-2% of our muscles made. from?
1-2% of our muscles are made of glycogen for readily use of glucose
what is 5-6% of the liver composed of?
5-6% of the liver is composed of glycogen, causing the body to have a high supply of glucose on standby if any muscles in the body suddenly require it
What are fatty acids made from?
Fatty acids are made from hydrocarbon chains (A chain head and a long hydrogen and carbon tail)
What kind of charge does the head of the hydrocarbon chain have?
The head of the hydro carbon chain as a negative charge because it is a carbide group (hydrophilic)
How can fatty acids be stored?
Fatty acids can be stored as triacyl glycerol which can be used as a source of energy
What can triacyl glycerol be broken down into and what can that substance be further broken down into as used for?
Triacyl glycerol can be broken down into fatty acids, which can then be broken down into acetyl coA which can be used in the citric acid cycle.
Fatty acids can also be broken down into glycerol which can be converted to make glucose and used to make energy through glycolysis.
How are fatty acids used in cells?
Fatty acids are very important components of cell membranes, they can be linked onto a head chain act as the hydrophobic tail of a cell membrane. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of these hydrocarbon chains allows the lipid bilayer membrane to be created
What are the features of steroids?
Steroids;
- Are rich in carbon and hydrogen
- 4 fused carbon rings. with different functional groups attached
- Made in the body (e.g cholesterol - high cholesterol means that. there is too much of the steroid cholesterol) - statins are used to inhibit the pathways that synthesises steroids like cholestrol
Draw an amino acid?
Amino acids have a core central carbon atom which on one side has an amino group (a nitrogen and some hydrogens, one hydrogen is positively charged making that functional group acidic) and on the other side they have a carboxyl group (carbon with one double bond to an oxygen and one single bond to an oxygen, making that group basic). They have an R-group which determines the type of amino acid.
What can amino acids be polymerised together with?
Amino acids can be polymerised together via a peptide bond to make a protein
Explain the chemistry behind a peptide bond?
In a peptide bond the negatively charged carboxide group of one amino acid reacts with the adjacent amino group of another amino acid where the carbon becomes joined to the
nitrogen.
