BIOCH 200 Unit 1 - Biomolecules (Terms)

Monomer

A molecule that forms a specific type of covalent bond to another similar or identical molecule to create a polymer

Polymer

A long chain structure of covalently bonded, similar monomers

Supra-Molecular Assemblies

Molecule machines (ribosomes, chromatin, membranes, etc.) made from the combination of a polysaccharide and a lipid that will go on to create organelles, cells, tissues, etc.

Lipid

A diverse class of hydrophobic biomolecule primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen molecules, with very little electronegative atoms

Amino Acid

A monomer biomolecule class comprised of a central carbon bonded to a carboxyl group and an amino group

Carbohydrate

A monomer biomolecule class comprised of an unbranched carbon chain or ring with each carbon hydrated and a carbonyl group

Nucleotide

A monomer biomolecule class comprised of a nitrogen base, ribose/deoxyribose sugar structure, and one or more phosphates

Functional Group

A specific subsection of a whole organic molecule that determines its properties and classification (ex. C=O, OH)

Linkage

The specific bond between two molecules that is distinctly present in a certain molecule (ex. ester linkage, amide linkage)

Carbonyl

A functional group consisting of carbon double bonded to an oxygen molecule (C=O) that can form aldehydes or ketones

Aldehyde

An organic molecule with a carbonyl functional group that is placed on a terminal carbon, thus being bonded to one R group and one hydrogen

Ketone

An organic molecule with a carbonyl functional group that is placed on an internal carbon, thus being bonded to two separate R groups

Carboxyl/Carboxy

A general term for the functional group consisting of carbon double bonded to an oxygen molecule (C=O) as well as a hydroxyl group (OH), including both the charged and uncharged form

Carboxylate

A carboxyl group in its charged or basic form, in which the hydrogen atom on the hydroxyl is removed (COO^-)

Carboxylic Acid

A carboxyl group in its uncharged or acidic form, in which the hydrogen atom on the hydroxyl is present (COOH)

Sulfhydryl

A functional group consisting of a sulfur molecule bonded to a hydrogen molecule

Thiol

An organic molecule with a sulfhydryl functional group connected to an R group

Amine

An organic molecule consisting of an R group bonded to a nitrogen atom, in which the degree of substitution on the nitrogen determines the degree of the molecule

Amino Group

A functional group consisting of a nitrogen central molecule bonded to 2 hydrogens in its uncharged/basic form (-NH₂) and 3 hydrogens in its charged/acidic ammonium form (-NH₃⁺)

Phosphate

A functional group consisting of a central phosphorus bonded to 4 oxygens (PO₄^2-)

Phosphoryl

A functional group consisting of a central phosphorus bonded to 3 oxygens (PO₃^2-)

Ether

A functional group consisting of two C-O bonds adjacent to one another

Phosphoanhydride

A functional group consisting of two P-O bonds adjacent to one another (POP), where each phosphorus is a phosphate group

Acyl Group

A functional group formed through the removal of a hydroxyl group from an oxoacid (typically carboxylic acid) when it is in the process of forming a linkage to another molecule, consisting of a carbonyl group bonded to an alkyl group

Condensation/Dehydration Reaction

The removal of a hydroxyl group from one molecule and a proton from another to form a water molecule that precipitates out of reaction, often used in the creation of linkages

Ester Linkage

A linkage between a carboxyl group and a hydroxyl group, forming a C-O bond

Ester

A functional group consisting of an ester linkage C-O bond as well as a carbonyl

Amide Linkage

A linkage between a carboxyl group and an amino group that creates a C-N bond

Amide

A functional group consisting of an amide linkage C-N bond as well as a carbonyl

Residue

A monomer that is linked with other monomers in a chain

Ionic Interaction

An electrostatic non-covalent force between two molecules of opposite charge

Hydrogen Bonds

An electrostatic non-covalent force consisting of the dipole-dipole interaction between an uncharged hydrogen and electronegative atom

Van der Waals Interactions

Intermolecular electrostatic non-covalent force consisting of either the dipole-dipole interaction between polar uncharged atoms or the London dispersion forces between nonpolar uncharged atoms

Dipole-Dipole Interaction

A type of Van der Waals force between neutral polar molecules in which the permanent dipoles on the molecules interact with each other electrostatically

London Dispersion Forces

A type of Van der Waals force between neutral nonpolar molecules in which the random movement of electron density between covalently bonded atoms form a temporary dipole that attracts other dipoles/neutral groups

Hydrophobic Interaction

A non-covalent interaction that arises from the tendency of water to minimize its contacts with nonpolar substances, inducing nonpolar molecules to aggregate together

Amphipathic Molecules

Molecules that experience both hydrophillic interactions and the hydrophobic effect due to containing polar and nonpolar sections, typically used to describe a largely non-polar molecule

Amphiphillic Molecules

Molecules that experience both hydrophillic interactions and the hydrophobic effect due to containing polar and nonpolar sections, typically used to describe a largely polar molecule

Micelle

A ball-like structure formed from the aggregation of amphipathic fatty acids in water

Bilayer

A sheet-like structure formed from the aggregation of amphipathic membrane lipids in water