Bio/Biochem MCAT

most hydrophilic functional groups

carboxilic acids > alcohols > esters > amines

medium hydrophilic functional groups

ketones and aldehydes

least hydrophilic functional groups

alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes

amphipathic 

molecules with both polar and non-polar components like fatty acids 

active site

the site on the enzyme where the enzymatic activity occurs

what molecules can easily pass through the plasma membrane?

lipid soluble molecules and small uncharged molecules

histones

protein beads around which DNA is wrapped for storage in nuclei. Negatively charged phosphate groups interact strongly with the positive lysine residues of this protein 

acetylation

this post-translational modification on histones, remove the histone’s positive charge, making transcription more possible

what determines solubility? 

polarity