BIOCHEM TEST 1 (introduction to biochemistry)

life can be defined through...

movement, reproduction, adaption, and responses to external stimuli

Life is (5)

1. COMPLEX and DYNAMIC

2. ORGANIZED and SELF- SUSTAINING

3. CELLULAR

4. INFORMATION -BASED

5. ADAPTIVE

How is life COMPLEX and DYNAMIC

Starting with a limited number of precursor molecules, than undergoing thousands of chemical reactions, producing energy and biomolecules.

how is life organized and self sustaining

Organized: Precursors → Polymers → Supramolecular Complexes →Organelles → Cells → etc.

Self-sustaining: molecules present in cells take part in synthesis

how is life cellular

Chemical reactions take place inside a cell, surrounded by a communicating/ selectively permeable membrane

how is life information based

linear structures of gene contains information for creating a protein. The protein than folds and interact with cellular components to undergo tasks.

how is life adaptive

It evolves. changes in information increases use of energy and reproduction.

precursor=

substance from which another if formed (procured from environment)

example of precursor

nitrogen, carbon, water - animals eat plant material to gain precursors for life (amino acids, carbs, lipids)

energy=

created from useful conversion of sunlight to chemical energy

example of energy

animals oxidize precursor molecules to CO2 and H2O to generate energy

information=

contained in genes, directs protein synthesis

example of information

structural elements of cell, catalyze chemical reactions, controls cellular processes

biopolymers=

polymeric macromolecules, highly ordered, specific sequences of monomers that give rise to structures + functions

how are macromolecules formed

subunits are connected by covalent bonds

macromolecules interact to form _____

supramolecular complexes, structures, organelles for metabolic functions

proteins=

largest group in functional + structural diversity

linear polymers of ____ existing amino acids

20

proteins act for ____

structure, catalysts, storage, and transport

nucleic acids=

second largest group

nucleic acids include

DNA + RNA

nucleic acids are polymers of ____

nucleotides

polysaccharides=

polymers o monosacchardies/simple sugars

homopolymers=

composed of only one monosaccharide monomer

homopolymers act as

structural elemnts in plant cells + energy storage

heteropolymers=

mixture of different monosaccharides

heteropolymers act as

recognition signals

lipids=

smallest but diverse

lipids are polymers of ______

a few simple precursors

lipids act as

energy storage depots within plants + animals

lipids are a major component of

membranes

SUPRAMOLECULAR COMPLEXES =

The form after biopolymers fold and interact with one another

Example of supramolecular complexes

These complexes can be as small as a hormone molecule interacting with its receptor or as large as the ribosome or cell membrane.

supramolecular complementary=

One molecule is complementary to the structure of the other and interact

structural complementarity allows

biomolecular recognition

structural complementarity is stabilized by

weak non-covalent bonds

water=

solvent of cellular components, reaction medium, substrate/product of reactions

water is a _____ molecule

polar, bent

oxygen carries a _____ charge

partial negative

hydrogen carries a ______charge

partial positive

water can form ________ bonds

4 hydrogen

all ____ bonds only can occur in ____

4, ice

solvation/hydration=

water interacts with substances to bring them into solution

ions are _____ via _____ interactions

solvated, ion-dipole

polar molecules are ____ via _____ interactions

hydrated, dipole-dipole

london forces/induced dipole interactions=

weakest of non-covalent interactions

hydrophobic interactions=

hold hydrophobic parts of the molecule together

clathrate=

rigid structure that surrounds the hydrophobic molecules, shielding them from the bulk water when water interacts with non polar hydrophobic molecules

dipole-dipole interactions=

very electronegative elements bond to a less electronegative element so electrons are shared unevenly, creating a permanent dipole

polar groups=

regions of a molecule with a permanent dipole

hydrogen bonds=

stronger, special class of dipole-dipole interactions

electrostatic interactions

ion pairing interactions/salt bridging

spontaneous reaction

fold biopolymers, form supramlecular complexes

SR occurs with a ___ Gibbs free energy

negative

SR is increased by a ____ in enthalpy

increase

SR is increased by a ____ in entropy

increase