The Structure & Function of Large Biological Molecules Flashcards
(40 cards)
Macromolecules
a molecule containing a very large number of atoms, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer
Polymerization
Any process in which relatively small molecules, called monomers, combine chemically to produce a very large chainlike or network molecule, called a polymer via dehydration synthesis
Carbohydrates
Any of a large group of organic compounds that includes sugars, starch, and cellulose, that has energetic and structural roles. Contains hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and used as structural materials and for energy storage within living tissues.
Sugars (saccharides)
As a chemical term, “sugar” usually refers to all carbohydrates of the general formula Cn(H2O)n. Sucrose is a disaccharide, or double sugar, being composed of one molecule of glucose linked to one molecule of fructose.
Polysaccharides
A large carbohydrate molecule. It contains many small sugar molecules that are joined chemically. Also called glycan. Can be either alpha or beta bonded.
Starch ( a, branched, digestible)
A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined together by glycosidic linkages.
Cellulose ( b, H-bonds, stacking )
A structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by ẞ glycosidic linkages.
Energy storage & structural
Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, are the most common long-term energy storage molecules in cells.
Lipids
Any of a group of large biological molecules, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, that mix poorly, if at all, with water.
Fatty Acids + glycerol (tricarboxylic acids)
A tricarboxylic acid is an organic carboxylic acid whose chemical structure contains three carboxyl functional groups (-COOH). The best-known example of a tricarboxylic acid is citric acid.
Saturation
A.) Saturation is the point at which a solution of a substance can’t dissolve more of that substance.
B.) Removing a hydrogen molecule from a saturated fat makes it unsaturated.
Cis vs trans
cis - H on same side of double bond
trans - H on opposing sides of double bond
Fats vs Oils
Fats: Solid at room temp
Oils: Liquid at room temp
Steroids/cholesterol
Cholesterol is a steroid because it shares the chemical structure of four fused carbon rings with other steroids.
What make up cell membranes?
Consists of lipids (phospholipids) and proteins + cholesterol
Proteins
A biologically functional molecule consisting of one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into a specific three-dimensional structure.
Amino Acids
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain both amino and carboxylic acid functional groups.
Amide bond
Between a carbonyl and amine group
Peptide bond
Primary: sequence
Primary structure of protein is a sequence of amino acids
Secondary: a helix, b pleated sheet
Based on hydrogen bonding patterns about the peptide bonds.
Tertiary/quaternary shape
Based upon bonding of R groups to R groups and or to the backbone
Enzyme
A macromolecule serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that increases the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction. Most enzymes are proteins.
Receptor
A molecule inside or on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific substance and causes a specific effect in the cell.
Nucleic acids (RNA, DNA)
A polymer (polynucleotide) consisting of many nucleotide monomers; serves as a blueprint for proteins and, through the actions of proteins, for all cellular activities. The two types are DNA and RNA.
