Section 2.1 - Macromolecules

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering the structure and function of the 4 major classes of macromolecules from Section 2.1.

Organic Molecules

Carbon-based molecules that are the building blocks of life.

Monomers

Individual building blocks that can be put together to build larger molecules.

Polymers

Large molecules composed of repeating units (monomers).

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO) in a $1:2:1$ ratio that serve as an energy source and short-term energy storage.

Monosaccharides

Carbohydrate monomers, also called simple sugars, which usually look like hexagons or pentagons.

Polysaccharides

Chains of monosaccharides, also called complex carbs, such as starch in plants and glycogen in animals.

Lipids

Macromolecules composed of CHO that are non-polar and hydrophobic (do not dissolve in water), including fats, waxes, oils, and steroids.

Triglycerides

The most common form of lipids, consisting of a glycerol backbone and 3 fatty acid chains.

Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids with no double bonds in the chain (carbons are saturated with hydrogen); their chains are flat, packing closely together to form solids at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that contain one or more double bonds in the fatty acid chain.

Proteins

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON) where each has a very specific shape and function.

Amino Acids

Protein monomers composed of a central carbon with a carboxyl group, amine group, hydrogen, and R (variable group).

Polypeptides

Polymers of amino acids which fold to become functional proteins.

Primary Structure

The level of protein structure defined by the order of the sequence of amino acids, which is determined by genes.

Secondary Structure

The level of protein structure where a polypeptide starts simple folding into alpha-helices (coils) and beta-pleated-sheets (zig-zags).

Tertiary Structure

The 3-D folding of a protein into a very specific shape.

Quaternary Structure

The level of protein structure where two or more polypeptides come together (not found in all proteins).

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphorus (CHONP) that store and transmit genetic information.

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids consisting of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA and RNA

The polymers of nucleic acids that store genetic information, utilizing nitrogenous bases A, T, C, G in DNA and A, U, C, G in RNA.