Biology

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, serving as a primary energy source.

Monomer for Carbs

Monosaccharides, the simplest form of carbohydrates.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars like glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed from two monosaccharides, such as sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates, including storage forms like glycogen and structural forms like chitin and cellulose.

Glycosidic Bond

The bond that links monosaccharides together in carbohydrates.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules essential for life, including DNA and RNA.

Monomer of Nucleic Acid

Nucleotide, the building block of nucleic acids.

Nucleotides

Composed of a phosphate group, a 5-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.

Nitrogenous Bases

The components of nucleotides that pair specifically (Cytosine with Guanine, Adenine with Thymine).

Phosphodiester Bond

The bond that holds together nucleotides in nucleic acids.

Polymer of Nucleic Acid

RNA and DNA, which serve different functions in the cell.

Specific to RNA

Single-stranded, contains ribose, can leave the nucleus, and uses uracil.

Specific to DNA

Double-helix structure, contains deoxyribose, stores hereditary information, and uses thymine.

Monomer of Proteins

Amino acid, the building block of proteins.

Number of Amino Acids

There are 20 different amino acids.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids; does not have to contain all 20 amino acids.

Primary Structure

The linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary Structure

The folding of the primary structure into alpha helixes and beta-pleated sheets due to hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary Structure

The overall three-dimensional shape of a protein formed by various interactions, including disulfide bridges and ionic bonds.

Quaternary Structure

The assembly of multiple polypeptides.

Peptide Bond

The bond that links amino acids together in a protein.

Dehydration

A process that combines monomers by removing water, forms a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

The process of adding water to break down larger molecules into smaller ones.

Denature

The process by which a protein loses its shape and, consequently, its function.

Causes of Denaturation

High temperature and acidic environments.

Renature

The process by which a denatured protein returns to its original shape and structure.

Chaperone

Assists in the proper folding of other proteins.

Lipids

Are not soluble in water.

Fats

Store the most energy.

Phospholipid

A major component of cell membranes, consisting of a polar head and nonpolar tails.

Fatty Acid Tail

The hydrophobic part of a phospholipid, which can be saturated or unsaturated.

Glycerol Head

The hydrophilic part of a phospholipid.

Triglycerides

Composed of one glycerol and three fatty acid tails.

Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids with no double bonds, solid at room temperature, considered unhealthy.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids with one or more double bonds, considered healthier.

Steroid

Characterized by a four-ring structure.

Cholesterol

Provides rigidity to cell membranes and serves as a precursor to other sterols and hormones.