Macromolecules and Cellular Building Blocks - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on macromolecules, cellular organization, and basic biochemistry.

Macromolecule

A large molecule built from smaller subunits (monomers), including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomer

A single building block that can join with others to form polymers.

Dehydration synthesis

A reaction that links monomers by removing water.

Glycosidic bond

Bond formed between sugar units in carbohydrates via dehydration synthesis.

Monosaccharide

A single sugar unit; the simplest carbohydrate.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides linked together.

Polysaccharide

Carbohydrate polymer composed of many sugar units (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin).

Glucose

A simple hexose sugar; a key energy source for cells.

Fructose

A simple sugar isomer of glucose; sweeter than glucose.

Starch

Plant storage polysaccharide; glucose polymer; mainly linear.

Glycogen

Animal storage polysaccharide; highly branched glucose polymer stored in liver and muscles.

Cellulose

Plant structural polysaccharide; beta-1,4 linkages; forms cell walls; indigestible by humans.

Chitin

Structural polysaccharide in fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons.

Empirical formula CH2O

General formula for carbohydrates; reflects the C:H:O ratio.

Lipids

Hydrophobic macromolecules; include fats, oils, phospholipids, steroids; mostly C and H.

Hydrophobic

Water-fearing; nonpolar; lipids do not mix well with water.

Triglyceride

Fat molecule with glycerol head and three fatty acid tails joined by ester bonds.

Fatty acids

Hydrocarbon tails of lipids; can be saturated or unsaturated.

Saturated fat

Fat with no carbon-carbon double bonds; typically solid at room temperature; usually from animals.

Unsaturated fat

Fat with one or more double bonds; typically liquid at room temperature; found in plants/fish.

Trans fat

Hydrogenated fats with trans double bonds; associated with higher health risks.

Phospholipid

Lipid with two fatty acid tails and a glycerol-phosphate head; forms cell membranes; hydrophilic head, hydrophobic tails.

Cholesterol

Sterol lipid; precursor to steroids; important membrane component.

Steroid

Lipids with four fused rings; include hormones; cholesterol is a precursor.

Protein

Macromolecule with a diverse range of functions (enzymes, transport, defense, signaling, structure, storage).

Amino acid

Protein monomer; contains amino group, carboxyl group, hydrogen, and an R group.

Peptide bond

Covalent bond linking amino acids during dehydration synthesis.

Polypeptide

Long chain of amino acids; protein or protein subunit.

Primary structure

Linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.

Secondary structure

Local folding into alpha helices or beta pleated sheets, due to hydrogen bonds.

Tertiary structure

Three-dimensional folding of a polypeptide due to various bonds between R groups.

Quaternary structure

Association of two or more polypeptide chains into a functional protein.

Denaturation

Loss of protein structure and function due to heat or chemicals.

Nucleic acid

Macromolecule storing genetic information; includes DNA and RNA.

Nucleotide

Nucleic acid monomer; composed of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; double-stranded helix; blueprint for proteins; bases A, C, G, T.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; generally single-stranded; bases A, C, G, U; carries genetic information for protein synthesis.

Base pairing

Complementary pairing: A with T (DNA) or A with U (RNA); C with G.

Transcription

Process of copying DNA into RNA.

Gene

DNA sequence that codes for a trait.

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence; can drive evolution or cause disease.

Hydrogen bond

Weak attraction between polar molecules; crucial for water, protein folding, and base pairing.

Covalent bond

Bond formed by sharing electrons within a molecule.

Ionic bond

Bond formed by transfer of electrons between atoms.

Monomer vs Polymer

Monomer is a building block; polymer is a long chain of monomers.

Water (H2O)

Polar molecule; universal solvent; forms hydrogen bonds.