Macromolecules Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are the four major categories of macromolecules?
Carbohydrate, protein, nucleic acid, and lipids
Which of the four categories of macromolecules isn’t considered polymers?
Lipids
What biomolecules are responsible for the synthesis and breaking down of polymers?
enzymes
What is the term for the reaction that combines two monomers to produce a polymer, and describe the process.
During a dehydration reaction, two monomers are joined and an H is lost from on and an OH from the other resulting in the overall loss of a water molecule.
What is the term for the reaction that breaks a polymer down into monomers, and describe the process.
During hydrolysis, a polymer is separated into two monomers and a water molecule attaches to the two monomers.
Define polymer
A chain-like molecule composed of many similar or identical building blocks called monomers
Define monomer
The building block out of which polymers are built
Define monosaccharide
the individual sugar molecules that carbohydrates are built out of
Define polysaccharide
The resulting carbohydrate that is produced from the combination of multiple monosaccharides during a dehydration reaction
Define glucose
A monosaccharide that is the primary fuel for cellular respiration
Describe the structure of most monosaccharides
Monosaccharides tend to have a carbon chain backbone with a carbonyl group and various hydroxyl groups
Describe the structure of glucose
Glucose is a 5-carbon ring in which the hydroxyl on the fifth carbon loses its hydrogen to the oxygen in the carbonyl on the first carbon and then the fifth and first carbons form an ether bond with the oxygen that remained from the hydroxyl
What are three important polysaccharides of glucose?
Starch, glycogen, and cellulose
Describe starch
starch is an energy storage carbohydrate produced by plants.
Describe glycogen
Glycogen is an energy storage carbohydrate produced by animals
Which has more branches, starch or glycogen? What does this mean for their function?
Glycogen has more branches than starch, meaning there are more points from which it can be broken down, which means it provides more energy. This is helpful for animals because they have to carry their energy storage with them and move around.
Describe cellulose
Cellulose is a structural carbohydrate produced by plants
Between starch and cellulose, which has more branches and why?
Cellulose has fewer branches which makes it better for forming the structure of cell walls, etc. but start has more branches which helps for providing energy storage
What chemical similarity exists between starch and glycogen that cellulose doesn’t share?
Both starch and glycogen are made of alpha glucose molecules, which makes them helical and digestible by animals. On the other hand, cellulose is made of beta glucose molecules, making it indigestible by animals.
What type of organism is capable of digesting cellulose?
Prokaryotes
What is a glycosidic linkage?
The bond between two monosaccharides that produces a polysaccharide
