Biomolecules

Vocabulary flashcards covering key biomolecule concepts from the lecture notes.

Monosaccharides

Basic carbohydrate subunits; simple sugars (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose); all share the same molecular formula C6H12O6.

Disaccharide

Carbohydrate formed from two monosaccharides (e.g., sucrose = glucose + fructose; lactose = galactose + glucose; maltose = glucose + glucose).

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides; examples include glycogen (animal storage).

Glucose

A hexose monosaccharide; primary blood sugar and energy source.

Fructose

A hexose monosaccharide; isomer of glucose found in many fruits.

Galactose

A hexose monosaccharide; isomer of glucose; part of lactose.

Sucrose

Disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose.

Lactose

Disaccharide composed of galactose and glucose.

Maltose

Disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules.

Glycogen

Polysaccharide; storage form of glucose in animals; highly branched.

Carbohydrates

Class of biomolecules including monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides; primary energy source.

Lipids

Diverse, hydrophobic biomolecules including fats, phospholipids, and steroids; energy storage and membrane structure.

Triglycerides

Lipids with glycerol backbone and three fatty acids; major energy store; formed by dehydration synthesis.

Glycerol

Three-carbon backbone used in triglycerides and phospholipids.

Fatty acids

Hydrocarbon chains that make up triglycerides and phospholipids; can be saturated or unsaturated.

Saturated fatty acid

Fatty acid with only single bonds between carbons; typically solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated fatty acid

Fatty acid containing one or more double bonds; typically kinked and liquid at room temperature.

Phospholipids

Lipids with a glycerol backbone, two fatty acids, and a phosphate-containing head; key component of cell membranes.

Phosphate group

Polar head group attached to the glycerol backbone in phospholipids.

Choline

A common polar head group in some phospholipids (e.g., lecithin).

Steroids

Lipids with four fused carbon rings; include cholesterol, estrogen, and testosterone.

Cholesterol

Steroid molecule that modulates membrane fluidity and is a precursor to steroid hormones.

Estrogen

Steroid hormone derived from cholesterol; involved in female reproductive biology.

Testosterone

Steroid hormone derived from cholesterol; primary male sex hormone.

Proteins

Macromolecules made of amino acids; perform enzymatic, structural, signaling, and transport roles.

Amino acids

Subunits of proteins; contain an amino group, carboxyl group, a central carbon, and a variable R group.

Peptide bond

Covalent bond linking amino acids via dehydration synthesis to form a polypeptide.

Polypeptides

Long chains of amino acids that fold into functional proteins.

Primary structure

Linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.

Secondary structure

Hydrogen-bonded folding of the polypeptide backbone into alpha helices or beta-pleated sheets.

Alpha helix

Right-handed helical secondary structure stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Beta-pleated sheet

Secondary structure with folding into sheet-like pleats stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Hydrogen bonds

Noncovalent bonds important for stabilizing secondary and tertiary protein structure.

Tertiary structure

Three-dimensional folding of a protein due to interactions among R groups (e.g., hydrophobic, hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bridges).

Quaternary structure

Protein structure formed when two or more polypeptide chains associate into a functional unit.

Nucleic acids

DNA and RNA; store and transmit genetic information; composed of nucleotides.

Nucleotides

Building blocks of nucleic acids; consist of sugar, phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; stores genetic information; typically double-stranded and helical.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; functions in protein synthesis and gene regulation; typically single-stranded.

Phospholipid bilayer

Two-layer arrangement of phospholipids forming the core structure of cell membranes.

Dehydration synthesis

Chemical reaction that forms bonds by removing a molecule of water.

Hydrolysis

Chemical reaction that breaks bonds by adding water.

Non-polar

Molecule or region with no partial charges; tends to be hydrophobic.

Polar

Molecule or region with partial charges; tends to be hydrophilic.

Charged

Molecules or groups carrying a net positive or negative charge (ionic characteristics).