The Structure and Function of Large Biological Molecules

Vocabulary flashcards derived from notes on the structure and function of large biological molecules, including definitions for key terms and concepts.

Macromolecule

Large complex molecules, made up of thousands of atoms, which include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar building blocks called monomers.

Monomer

The repeating units that serve as building blocks of polymers.

Dehydration reaction

A chemical reaction in which two molecules bond together with the loss of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that splits a molecule by adding water.

Polysaccharide

Carbohydrate macromolecules formed from many sugar building blocks.

Glycosidic linkage

The covalent bond that joins two monosaccharides together.

Saturated fatty acid

A fatty acid that has the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds.

Unsaturated fatty acid

A fatty acid that contains one or more double bonds between carbon atoms.

Phospholipid

A lipid consisting of two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to glycerol; forms a bilayer in cell membranes.

Steroid

A lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings.

Enzyme

A macromolecule that acts as a catalyst to speed up chemical reactions.

Peptide bond

Covalent bond formed between amino acids during protein synthesis.

Denaturation

The loss of a protein's native structure, rendering it biologically inactive.

DNA

A nucleic acid that stores and transmits hereditary information.

RNA

A nucleic acid involved in protein synthesis and gene expression.

Gene

A unit of inheritance consisting of DNA.