Biomolecules and Metabolism

Chemical Composition Analysis

Process of determining the elements and compounds present in a sample, often performed on living tissues to compare with non-living matter.

Primary Metabolites

Categories of compounds like amino acids and sugars found in animal tissues as essential components.

Biomacromolecules

Large biological molecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides.

Proteins

Biological macromolecules composed of amino acid chains, crucial for various functions in living organisms.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates made of multiple sugar units, serving as energy storage or structural components.

Nucleic Acids

Biological macromolecules like DNA and RNA, essential for genetic information storage and transfer.

Structure of Proteins

The specific arrangement of amino acids in a protein molecule, determining its function and properties.

Nature of Bond Linking Monomers in a Polymer

The type of chemical bond, like peptide bonds in proteins, that connects monomer units to form a polymer.

Dynamic State of Body Constituents - Concept of Metabolism

The continuous process of body constituents' turnover and transformation, involving various metabolic reactions.

Metabolic Basis for Living

The fundamental biochemical processes that sustain life in organisms, involving energy production and molecule synthesis.

The Living State

The state of being alive characterized by various biological processes and functions.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms, often specific to certain substrates.

Secondary Metabolites

Compounds like alkaloids and pigments found in plant, fungal, and microbial cells, with roles beyond basic metabolism.

Pigments

Colored compounds like carotenoids and anthocyanins, often involved in plant pigmentation and protection.

Alkaloids

Nitrogen-containing compounds with pharmacological effects, found in plants like morphine and codeine.

Terpenoids

Organic compounds derived from isoprene units, including essential oils and compounds with diverse functions.

Essential Oils

Aromatic oily liquids extracted from plants, often used in perfumes, flavorings, and traditional medicine.

Toxins

Harmful compounds produced by organisms, like abrin and ricin, often used for defense or predation.

Lectins

Proteins that bind to carbohydrates, playing roles in cell recognition and immune responses.

Drugs

Chemical substances with pharmacological effects, used for medicinal purposes like vinblastine and curcumin.

Polymeric Substances

Large molecules composed of repeating units, such as rubber, gums, and cellulose, with various biological functions.

Polymeric

Substances composed of multiple similar units bonded together

Micromolecules

Biomolecules with molecular weights under 1000 daltons

Macromolecules

Large molecules with molecular weights over 1000 daltons

Nucleic acids

Polymers of nucleotides, essential for genetic information storage

Peptide bonds

Chemical bonds linking amino acids in proteins

Glycosidic bond

Bond linking monosaccharides in polysaccharides

Phosphodiester bond

Bond linking nucleotides in nucleic acids, formed by phosphate and hydroxyl groups

Primary structure

Sequence of amino acids in a protein

Secondary structure

Regular structures like alpha-helices and beta-sheets in proteins

Tertiary structure

3D folding pattern of a protein, critical for its function

Quaternary structure

Arrangement of multiple protein subunits in a functional protein

Watson-Crick model

Secondary structure of DNA where it exists as a double helix with antiparallel strands, forming a sugar-phosphate-sugar backbone.

Base pairing

Specific pairing of adenine (A) with thymine (T) and guanine (G) with cytosine (C) in DNA, held together by hydrogen bonds.

B-DNA

Form of DNA with a double helix structure, where each step of ascent involves a pair of bases, turning 36° at each step.

Metabolism

Sum of all chemical reactions occurring in living organisms, involving the constant transformation of biomolecules through metabolic pathways.

Anabolic pathways

Metabolic pathways that lead to the synthesis of complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy input.

Catabolic pathways

Metabolic pathways that lead to the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

Glycolysis

Metabolic pathway involving the degradation of glucose into lactic acid in skeletal muscle, releasing energy.

Bioenergetics

Sub-discipline studying how living organisms derive, store, and utilize energy for various biological processes.

Steady state

Non-equilibrium state in living organisms characterized by constant concentrations of biomolecules, allowing continuous work.

Ribozymes

Nucleic acids that exhibit enzyme-like catalytic activity in biochemical reactions.

Chemical reaction

Process where chemical compounds undergo transformation by breaking and forming bonds, distinct from physical changes.

Rate of reaction

Measure of how fast a chemical or physical process occurs, influenced by factors like temperature and catalysis.

Carbonic anhydrase

Enzyme catalyzing the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid, significantly increasing the reaction rate.

Metabolic pathway

Series of enzyme-catalyzed reactions where each step is either catalyzed by the same enzyme complex or different enzymes.

Active Site

Specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds

Substrate

Molecule that is converted into a product by an enzyme

Product

Resulting molecule(s) from the conversion of a substrate by an enzyme

Transition State

Structure formed during the state where substrate is bound to the enzyme active site

Activation Energy

Energy required for a reaction to occur; lowered by enzymes

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

Temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate

Enzyme-Product Complex

Complex formed when an enzyme releases the products of a reaction

Competitive Inhibitor

Chemical that resembles the substrate and competes for the enzyme's active site

Optimum Temperature

Temperature at which an enzyme shows its highest activity

Optimum pH

pH at which an enzyme shows its highest activity

Vmax

Maximum velocity of an enzymatic reaction

Co-factors

Non-protein constituents bound to enzymes to make them catalytically active

Prosthetic Groups

Organic compounds tightly bound to the apoenzyme

Co-enzymes

Organic compounds transiently associated with the apoenzyme

Metal Ions

Metal ions required by some enzymes for their activity