Macromolecules Unit Test Ms 27-31 + enzyme lab Flashcards
(113 cards)
what is organic matter?
carbon-containing matter that builds life
what is an allotrope?
a substance made of only 1 element
how many bonds can carbon form? Significance?
it can form 4 bonds making it an excellent backbone element (four available electrons for bonding)
Why is carbon so critical to life?
it is the backbone element for all macromolecules
what are hydrocarbons?
molecules made of only hydrogen and carbon; have distinct aroma
where are hydrocarbons found & significance?
found in crude oil and natural gas meaning they must store and release energy
also found in lipids as part of their structure as long hydrocarbon tails
where is the majority of carbon found?
majority in biomass
what four organic macromolecules contribute to life?
carbohydrates
lipids
proteins
nucleic acids
how are macromolecules built?
built through Dehydration Synthesis (loss of water to form bond) Carbohydrates= monosaccharide Lipids= fatty acids Protein= amino acids Nucleic Acids= nucleotides
how are macromolecules broken down and why?
broken down through Hydrolysis (adds water to break bond)
what is a polymer?
macromolecules;made up of same-kind monomers
what is a monomer?
a molecule able to bond in long chains, such as an amino acid
what is a protein?
a macromolecule that includes 1 or more chains of amino acids
how is the function of a protein determined?
the amino acid chains are folded, and depending on that fold, it confers a specific function
how many amino acids are there and how many are usually in proteins?
there are 20 amino acids and 400-500 in one protein, making proteins very diverse
what differentiates one amino acid from another?
the R group(side group). This is because each amino acid has a unique R group giving them different chemical properties (also why there are 20 kinds of amino acids)
how is a protein made?
amino acids attract at opposite sides with the H bonding with the OH, called dehydration synthesis(ribosomes link amino acids)
what type of bonds are formed when building an amino acid chain?
peptide bonds form a linked chain of amino acids (called a polypeptide chain)
where are the building instructions for a protein found?
in DNA
what must occur for a protein to be functional?
the protein must be folded
what dictates the folding?
the interactions between different R groups (different amino acids have different R groups)
what happens when a protein folds?
it charges the R groups; either non-polar(hydrophobic) or polar(hydrophilic)
where are differently charged R groups found?
Hydrophobic on inside(away from water) and Hydrophilic on outside of protein (near water)
What causes protein unfolding? What is that process called?
Proteins have an optimal range of heat, pH, and salinity. If outside this optimal range proteins unfold (denature). This is called protein denaturation.