Ch. 7 - Microbial Biochemistry

What was the goal of the Urey Miller Experiment?

• To simulate an environment similar to Early Earth to produce organic compounds

After testing molecules, what did the Urey Miller Experiment find?

• Found amino acids

What was the main question that the Urey Miller experiment proposed?

• “Could you get organic compounds from inorganic compounds?”

What are the CHONPS?

• 6 Most Essential chemical elements

1. Carbon

2. Hydrogen

3. Oxygen

4. Nitrogen

5. Phosphorous

6. Sulfur

What is organic vs. inorganic?

• Organic: contains both carbon and hydrogen

• Inorganic: does NOT contain carbon and hydrogen

What are examples of macro nutrients?

• Macro; lipids

What are examples of micro nutrients?

• Vitamin (organic), mineral (inorganics)

What is covalent bonding?

• Sharing electrons, strong and stable

Where are protons and neutrons located?

• Located; in the nucleus

Where are the electrons located? What is their mass?

• Orbits the nucleus, negligible mass

How many electrons can in the 1st orbital or shell of an atom?

• 1st orbital; up into 2 electrons

How many electrons can be in the subsequent orbital or shell?

• 2nd orbital; up to 8 electrons

What is the atomic number?

• Number of protons (+)

What is the atomic mass? What do you assume about the electrons?

• Number of protons and neutrons

assume same number of electrons

What is an ion?

• Charged atom; different number of electrons than protons

What are isotopes?

• Different number of neutrons

What is stable?

• Valence (outer); shell is full

How many electrons in the valence (outer) shell?

• 4 electrons (-); wants to share to become stable

What is dehydration synthesis?

• Remove water; to join molecules (build up)

What is hyrolysis?

• Uses water to breakdown molecule/compound (breakdown)

What are the functions of carbohydrates?

• Short term energy storage, receptors, food, structural role in plants, fungi walls (chitin), exoskeletons of insects

What are the monomers versus polymers of carbohydrates?

• Monosaccharides

• Disaccharides

• Polysaccharides

What is an example of monosaccharides?

• Glucose

Whaat are examples of polysaccharides?

• Peptidoglycan, cellulose, glycogen, chitin

What are the functions of lipids?

• Long term storage, membrane structure (ergosterol), insulation, hormones, pigments

What monomers do lipids have?

• No monomers; all hydrophobic

What are the components of lipids?

• Fatty acids; hydrogen chains, nonpolar, hydrophobic

What are oils vs fats?

• Oils; liquid

• Fats; solid

What does saturated mean for the carbons? What is it covered in?

• Single bonded carbons; fully covered in hydrogens

What does unsaturated mean for carbons? What does this do to the pattern?

• Double bonded carbons; kink in the fatty acid

What are the 3 types of lipids?

1. Triglycerides

2. Phospholipids

3. Steroid

What is the function of triglycerides?

• Storage

What are phospholipids?

• Hydrophobic tail and hydrophilic head that makes up the plasma membrane

What is the structure of phospholipids?

• 2 Fatty acid tails + glycerol + a phosphate head

What is the structure of triglycerides?

• 3 Fatty acid tails + glycerol

How are phospholipids amphipathic?

• Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic

What is a micelle?

• Sphere of phospholipids

What are steroids?

• Lipids with complex ring structures

What are the functions of steroids?

• Strengthen cell membranes, hormones, pigments (chlorophyll)

What are sterols?

• Most common steroid (cholesterol)

What do mycoplasmas?

• Lack cell wall (steroid)

What are examples of lipids?

• Cell membranes (ergosterol), lipopolysaccharides, cholsterol

What are the functions of nucleic acids?

• Storage and transfer of genetic information

What are the monomers and polymers?

• Monomer: nucleotides

• Polymer; DNA and RNA