carbon compounds

What are the four main types of macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

What is a monomer?

The simple building block of a macromolecule.

What is a dimer?

Two monomers linked together through a dehydration synthesis reaction.

What are the components of carbohydrates?

Short term energy sources, exoskeletal structures of arthropods, and components of cell walls.

What are monosaccharides?

The common name for carbohydrate monomers, examples include ribose, glucose, fructose, and galactose.

What are disaccharides?

Dimers of carbohydrates; examples include sucrose (glucose + fructose), lactose (glucose + galactose), and maltose (glucose + glucose).

What are polysaccharides?

Polymers of carbohydrates; examples include amylose, cellulose, glycogen, and chitin.

What is the primary energy source provided by lipids?

Long term energy source, providing 9 kcal/g.

What is the structure of a triglyceride?

A glycerol backbone connected by ester linkages to three fatty acids.

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?

Saturated fats have all single bonds and are solid at room temperature, while unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds causing a bent structure.

What are phospholipids?

Lipids that form the bilayers of cell membranes, containing two fatty acids and a phosphate group.

What are the monomers of proteins?

Amino acids.

What is a polypeptide chain?

A chain formed by multiple amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

What is sickle cell anemia?

A condition caused by abnormal hemoglobin leading to misshaped red blood cells.

What are the functions of proteins?

Proteins can serve as enzymes, structural components, storage, transport, hormonal, receptor, contractile, motor, and defensive proteins.

What is the role of enzymes?

To speed up the rate of chemical reactions.

What type of macromolecules are nucleotides a part of?

Nucleic acids, including RNA and DNA.

What are the types of amino acids?

Polar, nonpolar, positively charged, negatively charged.

What is the role of hemoglobin?

To transport oxygen in the blood.

What is insulin classified as?

A hormonal protein involved in the regulation of blood sugar.

What function do antibodies serve in the immune system?

To defend against pathogens.

What is sucrose and what is it composed of?

Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose linked by a glycosidic bond.

What is lactose and what is it composed of?

Lactose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and galactose linked by a glycosidic bond.

What is maltose and what is it composed of?

Maltose is a disaccharide composed of two glucose units linked by a glycosidic bond.