Chapter 3: Macromolecules - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key macromolecule concepts, components, structures, and related health implications from the lecture notes.

Macromolecule

A large molecule composed of many subunits.

Polymer

A molecule made up of many repeating subunits.

Monomer

A subunit of a polymer; the building block.

Dehydration synthesis

Reaction that links monomers into polymers with the loss of water.

Hydrolysis

Reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

Monosaccharide

Simple sugar; the carbohydrate monomer (e.g., glucose).

Glycerol

Three-carbon molecule that forms the backbone of triglycerides with fatty acids.

Fatty acids

Hydrocarbon chains that attach to glycerol to form lipids.

Amino acids

Building blocks of proteins.

Nucleotides

Monomer units of nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecule type built from sugar monomers; includes sugars and starches.

Lipids

Nonpolar macromolecules; energy storage, membranes, and hormone synthesis.

Proteins

Macromolecules made of amino acids; perform many cellular functions.

Nucleic acids

Macromolecules that store and express genetic information (DNA and RNA).

Glucose

Most abundant monosaccharide; primary fuel for cellular work.

Sucrose

Disaccharide of glucose and fructose; common table sugar.

Starch

Plant storage polysaccharide composed of glucose.

Glycogen

Animal storage polysaccharide in liver and muscle.

Cellulose

Plant structural polysaccharide; most abundant organic compound.

Chitin

Structural polysaccharide in arthropods (exoskeletons) and fungi (cell walls).

Dietary fiber

Indigestible carbohydrate (cellulose) with health benefits like slower sugar absorption and gut support.

Glycoprotein

Protein with attached carbohydrate; involved in signaling; contributes to blood type differentiation.

Hydrophilic

Water-loving; polar; dissolves in water.

Hydrophobic

Water-fearing; nonpolar; repels water.

Phospholipid

Lipid with a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails; forms cell membranes.

Bilayer

Double-layered structure of phospholipids in cell membranes.

Cholesterol

Sterol used to make steroid hormones and membranes; excess can damage arteries.

Steroid hormone

Hormones derived from cholesterol (e.g., estrogen, testosterone).

HDL

High-density lipoprotein; carries cholesterol to the liver for degradation; often called 'good' cholesterol.

LDL

Low-density lipoprotein; carries cholesterol to tissues; high levels risk artery damage.

Triglyceride

Primary energy storage form of lipids; glycerol backbone with three fatty acids.

Adipocyte

Fat cell that stores triglycerides beneath the skin.

Saturated fat

Fat with no double bonds; typically solid at room temperature.

Monounsaturated fat

Fat with one double bond in cis configuration; bent, usually liquid at room temperature.

Polyunsaturated fat

Fat with multiple double bonds in cis configuration; more bent, liquid at room temperature.

Trans fat

Fat with double bonds in trans configuration; tends to be solid or semi-solid.

Omega-3

Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids (ALA, DHA, EPA).

Omega-6

Essential fatty acids (e.g., linoleic acid).

DNA

Double-stranded nucleic acid; stores genetic information with bases A, T, C, G.

RNA

Single-stranded nucleic acid; uses bases A, C, G, U; role in transcription/translation.

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate; primary energy currency of the cell; produced mainly by mitochondria.

Nucleotide

Monomer of nucleic acids; consists of a sugar, phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA base pairing

A pairs with T; C pairs with G.

Flow of information: DNA → RNA → Protein

Genetic information is transcribed from DNA to RNA and translated to build proteins.

Peptide bond

Bond linking amino acids in a polypeptide.

Polypeptide

Chain of amino acids; a protein.

Primary structure

Linear sequence of amino acids in a protein.

Secondary structure

Shapes like alpha helices and beta sheets held by hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary structure

Three-dimensional folding of a protein due to R-group interactions.

Quaternary structure

Assembly of multiple polypeptides into a functional protein.

Denature

Loss of protein structure and function due to unsuitable pH or temperature.

pH

Measure of hydrogen ion concentration; acidity vs basicity.

Protein misfolding diseases

Disorders caused by abnormal protein folding (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, Huntington's, Cystic Fibrosis; prions).

Prion

Infectious misfolded protein particle; always fatal.