AP Biology Unit 1

Carbon

a vital element for life, forming the backbone of organic molecules and essential for biological processes such as photosynthesis and respiration.

Trace Elements

4% of all elements found in organisms, crucial for various biochemical functions.

Glycerol

a simple compound that serves as a building block for lipids, three carbon atoms

Dehydration synthesis

When two monomers bond and water is removed; opposite of hydrolysis

Hydrolysis

When a polymer is broken apart when a water molecule is added; opposite of dehydration

Carbohydrates

Sugars, monomer are monosaccharides (simplest are glucose and Fructose); usually in the ratio CxH2xOx

Glycosidic linkage

Bonding between monosaccharides

Glycogen and starch

Common polysaccharides that are sugar storage molecules. Glycogen for animals starch for plants

B-glucose molecules

humans can’t digest it, molecules of B-glucose form cellulose and chitin

Proteins

perform most of the work in your cells, important for structure, function, and regulation of tissues and organs; consists of C,H,O, N, and sometimes S atoms

Amino Acids

Monomer of proteins, 20 different types;consist of an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen, and a R-group

Peptite bond

Bond between amino acids

Primary structure

Linear sequence of amino acids

Secondary structure

Polypeptide twists, forming a coil or zigzagging patten; caused by amino acids interacting with nearby amino acids

Tertiary structures

When amino acids far apart start to bond. Hydrophobic amino acids bend inwards, hydrophilic amino acids go to the outside

Quaternary structures

Different polypeptide chains interact ex. hemoglobin. All types of bonding

Chaperone proteins (chaperonins)

helps proteins fold properly and efficiently

Lipids

Non polar, form cell membranes, sources of insulations, energy storage; consists of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen atoms

Triglycerides

a type of fat in blood, a common type of lipid; consists of a glycerol molecule, three fatty acid chains, and a carboxyl group

Unsaturated fatty acid

Has a cis-double bond, a “kink” causing the lipid to bend

Phospholipids

Has two fattya cid “tails” and one negatively charged phosphate “head”; is used in the cell membrane bilayer

Cholestrol

A type of lipid; four-ringed molecule; protects against extremely high and low temperatures

Nucleic acids

Contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and phosphate; most common DNA, RNA