Lecture 2- Microbiology and Biochemistry Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the MCB 2010/2010L introductory lecture covering foundational microbiologists, organic biomolecules, protein levels, DNA/RNA structures, and genetic transfer mechanisms.

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

The first scientist to visualize single-cell organisms.

Robert Koch

The scientist who invented the postulates for Germ Theory.

Louis Pasteur

The scientist recognized for work with live-attenuated vaccines.

Joseph Lister

The scientist known for pioneering work with phenols in medical practices.

Miasma Theory

The historic theory purports that diseases arise from foul-smelling odors.

Cell Theory

The fundamental theory that counteracts spontaneous generation.

Organic Molecules

Molecules that contain carbon, making up the vast majority of cellular weight in living organisms.

Macronutrients

Essential elements—specifically Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H), Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), Nitrogen (N), and Oxygen (O)—that comprise $98.5\text{--}99\%$ of cellular weight.

Micronutrients (trace elements)

Elements required by cellular organisms in small amounts, such as Zinc (Zn), also referred to as trace elements.

Carbon Skeleton

A 2D representation of the chemical bonds within a carbon-containing molecule.

Isomers

Two or more molecules that share the exact same chemical formula but possess different structural layouts.

Functional Groups

Specific chemical clusters on molecules that perform specific chemical functions and help differentiate molecules

Saccharides

Also known as carbohydrates or sugars, these are the most numerous biomolecules on Earth and are classified by their carbon atom count.

structures that sugars adopt instead of their 2D carbon skeletons and rather fold in on themselves to form ____

Cylic rings

What is the most abundant sugar in nature?

Glucose (a hexose)

Glycosidic Bond

A strong covalent bond formed between monosaccharides during dehydration synthesis, producing water as a byproduct.

What are the important polysaccharide chains made from glucose?

starch, glycogen, and cellulose

Fatty Acid

An elongated carbon chain terminating in a carboxyl group that imparts hydrophobic ("water-fearing") properties to lipids.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid structure containing only single carbon-carbon bonds because it is completely filled with hydrogen atoms.

Unsaturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid that contains at least one double bond within its structure due to missing hydrogen atoms.

Triglyceride

A nonpolar lipid formed by linking three fatty acid chains to a glycerol molecule through hydroxyl group bonding.

Hydroxyl group (OH)

forms bond with the hydroxyl group of the glycerol molecule

What type of reaction occurs to form a triglyceride?

A dehydration synthesis reaction, where three fatty acids bond with a glycerol molecule, producing water as a byproduct.

Phospholipid

An amphipathic lipid consisting of two fatty acids and a phosphate group attached to a glycerol backbone, providing membrane structure.

Amphipathic

Molecules that have both hydrophobic (water-fearing) and hydrophilic (water-attracting) properties, allowing them to form structures like bilayers in biological membranes.

Prokaryotes (Bacteria) steroids

Hopanoids

Eukaryotes steroids

Cholesterol

Fungi steroids

Ergosterol

Isoprenoids

Branched lipids used in pharmaceutical drugs, pigments, and fragrances, which are also produced by pathogenic bacteria to enhance survival.

Ergosterol

A specific type of steroid present in the cellular membranes of fungi.

Hopanoids

Steroid-like membrane-strengthening molecules utilized by prokaryotic (bacterial) cells.

What is a single carbon (a-Carbon) bound to an amino group

Amino acids

Composition of protein

amino acid (a-carbon), Amino group (NH2), carboxyl group, and an R group (side chain)

Protein

A long chain formed when amino acids exceed 50 in number, adopting complex shapes for functionality.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond formed between the amine group of one amino acid and the hydroxyl group of another amino acid's carboxyl cluster.

Primary Protein Structure

The linear sequence in which amino acids bind together.

Secondary Protein Structure

Structural folding driven by hydrogen bonding within a polypeptide chain, forming ̑\alpha-helices or ̑\beta-pleated sheets.

Tertiary Protein Structure

The 3D folding arrangement of ̑\alpha-helices and ̑\beta pleated sheets held together by disulfide bridges.

Quaternary Protein Structure

The complex structure formed when multiple polypeptide chains interact and bond to create a functional protein, collection of multiple tertiary-structure proteins

What are the four respective structures of a protein?

Primary → Secondary → Tertiary → Quaternary

____ are sculpted into ____

Proteins; cells

Denatured

Describing a protein that has lost its folded shape and structural integrity, causing a loss of biological function.

Central Dogma of Microbiology

The concept stating that DNA is transcribed into RNA, RNA is translated into proteins, and proteins construct functional cells.

B-DNA

The most common, fully hydrated helical form of double-stranded DNA.

Z-DNA

A left-winding structural variant of DNA often associated with disease.

Pyrimidines

one Single-ring of atoms of nitrogenous bases, which include Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).

Purines

Double-ring nitrogenous bases, which include Adenine (A) and Guanine (G).

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

The resilient structural side of DNA composed of alternating deoxyribose sugar and phosphate units joined by phosphodiester bonds.

Antiparallel

The relative alignment of DNA strands where one strand runs $5'$ to $3'$ while its complementary strand runs $3'$ to $5'$.

What bases, facing inwards in the DNA strand, form two bonds

A and T

What bases, facing inwards in the DNA strand, form three bonds

G and C

Vertical Gene Transfer

The transmission of genetic material from parental cells to offspring, producing daughter cells.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

The transfer of genetic information (such as plasmids) between contemporary cells via structures like the F (sex) pilus.

Messenger RNA (mRNA)

serves as intermediary between DNA and protein; used by ribosome to direct synthesis of protein it encodes

structure of mRNA

short, unstable, single-stranded RNA corresponding to a gene encoded within DNA

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

carries the correct amino acid to the site of protein synthesis in the ribosome

structure of tRNA

short, (70-90 nucleotides long) stable RNA with extensive intramolecular base pairing; contains an amino acid binding site and an mRNA binding site

Ribosomal RNA (rRNA)

ensures the proper alignment of mRNA, tRNA, and ribosome during protein synthesis; catalyzes peptide bond formation between amino acids

structure of rRNA

longer, stable RNA molecules composing 60% of ribosome’s mass

Genotype

The specific genetic makeup of an organism.

Phenotype

The observable physical characteristics or functional properties of an organism dictated by its genotype.

_____ determines the phenotype for organisms

genotype

Plasmids

Extrachromosomal, mobile genetic elements in bacteria that carry beneficial genes such as those encoding toxins and antibiotic resistance.

How many copies of chromosome does fungi have?

usually haploid

How many copies of chromosome do plants have?

Diploid and polypoid