Unit 1 Biochemistry: Vocab

Proteins

Large biomolecules composed of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, essential for structure, function, and regulation, of the body cells, tissues and organs

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that provide energy to living organisms. They include sugars, starches, and cellulose

Lipids

A group of naturally occurring molecules that include fat, oils waxes, and steroids. They are hydrophobic and play key roles in energy storage and cell membrane structures

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules (DNA and RNA) that store and transfer genetic information in cells

Monomer

A single molecule that can bond with other identical molecules to form a polymer

Polymer

A large molecules composed of repeating structural units (monomers) linked by a covalent bonds

Starch

A polysaccharide carbohydrate consisting of a large number of glucose units. It is used by plants to store energy

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of a single sugar molecule, such as glucose and fructose

Polysaccharide

A carbohydrate molecule composed of many monosaccharide units bonded together, such as starch, cellulose, or glycogen

Amino Acid

Organic Compounds that serve ass the building blocks of proteins. Each amino acid has an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a side chain

Fatty Acid

A long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxylic acids group at one end. They are components of lipids like triglycerides and phospholipids

Nucleotide

The basic building block to nucleic Acids (DNA and RNA), consisting of a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base

Enzyme

A biological catalyst made of protein that speeds up chemical reactions in living organisms by lowering the activation energy

-ase

A suffix used to name enzymes, typically indicating the substance they act on or the type of reaction they catalyze (lactose breaks down lactase)

Lock and Key Model

A model on enzyme activity where the enzyme (lock) has a specific shape that fits only a specific substance (key), ensuring specificity in biochemical reactions

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process

Substrate

The specific reactant that an enzyme acts upon during a biochemical reaction

Active Site

The specific region of any enzyme where the substrate binds and the reaction takes place

Enzyme - Substrate complex

The temporary complex formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme

Reactants

Substances that are present at the beginning of a chemical reaction and undergo change during the reaction

Products

Substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction

Activation Energy

The minimum amount of energy required to initiate a chemical reaction

Temperature/pH

Environmental factors that affect enzyme activity. Each Enzyme works best at a specific temperature and pH level (optimum conditions)

Denatured

A conditions where an Enzyme loses it shape and functionality due to unfavorable temperature, pH, or chemical exposure

Optimum

The ideal conditions (temperature, pH, etc.) under which an enzyme works most efficiently