Midterm Flashcards
(253 cards)
Define biochemistry
The science concerned with the chemistry of biological processes
The study of life at the molecular level
The application of chemistry to the study of biological processes at the cellular and molecular levels
Describe cells
Basic building blocks of life
Smallest living unit of a cell
Grow, reproduce, use energy, adapt, respond to their environment
Most cannot be seen with naked eye
Cell may be an entire organism of may be one of billions
What are bio-molecules?
Building blocks of cell
What are the major classes of small bio-molecules?
Simple sugars
Amino acid
Nucleotide
Fatty acid
Describe amino acids
Building blocks of protein
20 commonly occurring
Contains amino group and carbonyl group and r group
What do r groups do?
Determine the chemical properties of amino acids
Describe sugars
Make up carbohydrates
Basic unit is a monosaccharide
What are the functions of sugars?
Store fuel/energy in the form of starch or glycogen
Provide energy
Supply carbon for synthesis
Form structural components in cells and tissues
Intracellular communications
Describe fatty acids
Are monocarboxylic acids and contain even numbers of C atoms
Saturated and unsaturated
Components of several lipid molecules
What are the functions of fatty acids?
Storage of fuel/energy in the form of fat
Membrane structures
Insulation
Synthesis of hormones
Define metabolism
Total sum of the chemical reactions happening in a living organism
Anabolism and catabolism
Define anabolism and catabolism
Anabolism: energy requiring biosynthetic pathways
Catabolism: degradation of fuel molecules and the production of energy for cellular function
What is true about all biochemical reactions?
All are catalyzed by enzymes
What are the primary functions of metabolism?
Acquisition and utilization of energy
Synthesis of molecules needed for cellular structures and functions
Removal of waste products
What are some frequent reactions encountered in biochemical processes?
- Nucleophilic substitution: one atom of group substituted for another
- Elimination reactions: double bond is formed when atoms in a molecule are removed
- Addition reactions: two molecules combine to form a single product (hydration reaction)
- Isomerization reactions: involve intramolecular shift of atoms or groups
- Redox: transfer of electrons from a donor to an acceptor
- Hydrolysis: cleavage of double bond by water
How do cells remain organized?
Living cells are unstable and are in steady-state
A constant flow of energy prevents them from becoming disorganized
How do cells obtain energy?
Mainly by the oxidation of bio-molecules (electrons transferred from 1 molecule to another in doing so they lose energy)
Describe the transformation of energy from the sun to heterotrophs
Sunlight is captured phototrophs
Autotrophs use energy and electrons from inorganic molecules to reduce CO2 to organic compounds (carbon from CO2)
Heterotrophs oxidize these organic carbon sources to obtain energy and carbon (carbon from organic compounds)
How does life drive unfavourable reactions forward?
Uses chemical coupling
How does the complex structure of cells maintain high internal order?
- Synthesis of bio-molecules
- Transport Across membranes
- Cell movement
- Waste removal
How much of a cell is made up of H, O, N, and C?
> 95%
What are geometric isomers?
Configuration is restricted by double bonds
Different bond connectivity
What are stereoisomers and what are the two types?
Have the same bonds and atoms, different configuration around a chiral center
Enantiomers: mirror images
Diastereomers: stereoisomers that are not mirror images
What occurs when you change the configuration of a molecule?
It alters its ability to interact with proteins and therefore its biological activity