The Structure and Function of Large Biological Macromolecules

These flashcards cover the key concepts from Chapter 5 on large biological macromolecules, including definitions and differences related to macromolecules, reactions, structures, and the roles of biological molecules.

What are the four major classes of macromolecules?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.

What is the difference between monomers and polymers?

Monomers are small building blocks, while polymers are large molecules made of many repeating monomers.

What is a glycosidic linkage?

A glycosidic linkage is a covalent bond that connects two monosaccharides.

What distinguishes saturated fats from unsaturated fats?

Saturated fats have no double bonds and contain the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, while unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds.

What are two types of secondary protein structure?

Alpha helix and beta pleated sheet.

What is the basic structure of a nucleotide?

A nucleotide consists of a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and one or more phosphate groups.

What is hydrolysis?

Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction that breaks polymers into monomers by adding water.

What role do chaperonins play in protein folding?

Chaperonins assist in the proper folding of proteins.

What is the primary structure of a protein?

The primary structure is the unique sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

What is the significance of the 5' and 3' ends of a nucleotide strand?

The 5' end has a phosphate group while the 3' end has a hydroxyl group, determining the directionality of the nucleic acid.

What are the functions of proteins in cells?

Proteins are involved in structural support, transport, storage, signaling, movement, and catalyzing biochemical reactions.

What type of bond holds the monomers of nucleic acids together?

Phosphodiester bonds hold nucleotides together in a nucleic acid.

What is the function of carbohydrates in biological systems?

Carbohydrates serve as fuel and building materials for cells.

Explain the difference between ribose and deoxyribose.

Ribose is a sugar with an -OH group at the 2' carbon, while deoxyribose lacks an oxygen atom at this position.

What is a point mutation?

A point mutation is a change in a single base pair of a gene that can affect the protein produced.

What is the role of enzymes?

Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions without being permanently changed in the process.