Proteins and Nucleic Acids Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to protein structures, amino acids, nucleic acid properties, DNA, RNA, and ATP from Biology Lesson 4.

Proteins

Long chains of amino acids that are found as parts of muscle tissue, cell membranes, and enzymes.

Amino Group

The end of an amino acid molecule that contains a nitrogen atom.

Carboxyl Group

The acidic end of an amino acid composed of a carbon atom with two oxygen atoms and a hydrogen atom ($-COOH$).

Glycine

The smallest amino acid, which has a hydrogen atom attached to its central carbon atom as its side chain.

Peptide Bond

The chemical bond that unites two amino acids.

Dipeptide

A molecule consisting of two amino acids attached to each other.

Polypeptide

A long chain sequence of amino acids.

Primary Structure

The linear sequence chain of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary Structure

The coiling of a polypeptide chain into a spiral helix.

Tertiary Structure

The 3D organization of a protein's structure that arises as the coiled polypeptide chains fold back on themselves.

Quaternary Structure

The protein structure that results when a protein is composed of more than one polypeptide chain.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as catalysts, causing chemical reactions in cells to proceed faster.

Substrate

The molecules that are changed during enzyme-catalyzed chemical reactions in cells.

Nucleic Acids

Molecules, including DNA and RNA, that serve as blueprints, plans, and managers within cells to maintain homeostasis.

Nucleotides

The building block molecules of nucleic acids, each composed of a 5-carbon sugar molecule, a phosphate molecule, and an organic nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid; a double-stranded nucleic acid forming a helix structure that contains the sugar deoxyribose.

RNA

Ribonucleic Acid; a single-stranded nucleic acid that contains the sugar ribose.

Deoxyribose

The 5-carbon sugar present in DNA, distinguished by the absence of an oxygen atom on its lower right carbon atom.

Ribose

The 5-carbon sugar present in RNA, distinguished by the presence of an oxygen atom on its lower right carbon atom.

Thymine

A nitrogenous base found exclusively in DNA that pairs opposite adenine via 2 hydrogen bonds.

Uracil

A nitrogenous base found exclusively in RNA.

Double Helix

The staircase structure formed by two opposing nucleotide strands in a DNA molecule.

ATP

Adenosine Triphosphate; a nucleotide used to store energy in cells.

ADP

Adenosine Diphosphate; the molecule formed when ATP loses a phosphate group upon releasing energy.