Lecture 2+3: Biological Molecules I, Carbohydrates And Lipids Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the polarity of a regular Hydrocarbon?
All hydrocarbons are non-polar unless another element is introduced (Ethane is non-polar but ethanol is polar)
What are the 4 Biological Macromolecules?
Proteins: Functional and Structural
Carbohydrates: Starch, Cellulose, Chitin
Lipids: Triglycerides, Phospholipids, Steroids
Nucleic Acids: DNA, RNA
What are the 3 subunits of Carbohydrates?
Monosaccharides: 3,5,6 Carbons long and contain glucose and all the other base sugars (Straight line form, rings dissolve in water)
Disaccharides: When 2 or more monosaccharides are combined (Sometimes through the dehydration synthesis, when the oH and H group combine to create a larger molecule)
Polysaccharides: Long linkages of the disaccharide unit to create a long term sugar storage)
2 Polysaccharides and where they are found
Cellulose: Polymer of β-glucose. (Plant cell walls, tough). α-amylase cannot break it!
Glycogen: Made of α-glucose and can be broken down into glucose for energy use. It is the stored form of sugar in animals, found in liver
What is Chitin?
A derivative of glucose, it contains a protein subunit which gives it strength and makes it very hard and durable
What are 3 Properties of Lipids?
Insoluble in water
Cluster together to form non-polar sections
Hydrophobic (one side is hydrophilic and one hydrophobic but the clustering binds them together to make a circle in which water cannot enter)
What are Saturated Fats?
Fats in which every bond is taken up by a hydrogen so it is single bonded and much more stable and harder to break down
What are Unsaturated Fats
Fats that have occasional double bonds and bends, this lowers the stability and makes it much easier to break down and digest
What are cis fats and trans fats and which are worse for you?
Cis Fats are the naturally occurring deviation of hydrogens on fats which cause them to bend and be easier to break down. Trans fats result from hydrogenation and have equal amounts of hydrogens on either side, making them stable and unnaturally hard to break down.
Trans fats are worse due to their stability
What is the difference between a Terpene and a Steroid?
A Terpene is a linear and usually volatile chain of lipids Ex: Chlorophyll, Retinal, Rubber
A steroid is a biologically active organic compound (because of its rings) with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration
How are fats usually used in the body?
Fats are an excellent energy storage molecule due to their stability, 1g of fat is 9Kcal while Carbs are 4Kcal per g. Fats are used in the body for cushioning and biological membranes. They are essential but there are good and bad fats.
What are Micelles and Lipid Bilayers?
Micelles are round configurations of fats with all the hydrophilic heads arraigned in a sphere with just the hydrophobic tails in the middle, this is how fat usually arranges itself to stay together
Lipid Bilayers basis for cell membranes with an outer and inner side that doesn’t permit fluids to escape in or out,
