Macromolecules and Their Properties

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms related to macromolecules, their building blocks, bonding mechanisms, and biological roles.

Macromolecule

A large biological polymer such as a polysaccharide, protein, or nucleic acid.

Polymer

A long molecule built by linking together many small subunits (monomers) through covalent bonds.

Monomer

The small subunit that joins with others to form a polymer; sugars, amino acids, and nucleotides are examples.

Polysaccharide (Carbohydrate)

A polymer of monosaccharides that functions in energy storage or structural support.

Protein

A polymer of amino acids that folds into a specific 3-D shape to perform diverse cellular functions.

Nucleic Acid

A polymer of nucleotides (DNA or RNA) that stores and transmits genetic information.

Monosaccharide

A single sugar molecule; the monomer unit of polysaccharides.

Amino Acid

One of 20 small organic molecules that link via peptide bonds to form proteins.

Nucleotide

The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

Dehydration (Condensation) Reaction

An energy-requiring process that joins two monomers by removing a molecule of water and forming a covalent bond.

Hydrolysis Reaction

The chemical process that breaks covalent bonds in polymers by adding water, releasing monomers.

Covalent Bond

A strong chemical bond requiring energy input to form; links monomers within macromolecules.

Noncovalent Bond

A weak, easily reversible interaction (e.g., hydrogen or ionic bond) that helps shape macromolecules.

Hydrogen Bond

A type of noncovalent bond formed between a partially positive hydrogen and an electronegative atom.

Ionic Bond

A noncovalent attraction between oppositely charged ions that contributes to macromolecular structure.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

A high-energy molecule whose phosphate removal supplies energy for dehydration reactions.

Starch

A glucose polysaccharide that serves as an energy storehouse in plants.

Glycogen

A branched glucose polysaccharide used by animals to store energy.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide that provides strength to fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide forming plant cell walls, providing rigidity and strength.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond linking amino acids in a protein, formed by dehydration.

Polypeptide

A linear chain of amino acids that folds into a functional protein or subunit.

Protein Folding

The spontaneous process by which a polypeptide assumes its specific 3-D shape via many noncovalent interactions.

Enzyme

A protein catalyst that lowers activation energy to speed up cellular chemical reactions.

Activation Energy

The energy barrier that reactants must overcome before a chemical reaction can proceed.

Hemoglobin

An oxygen-transport protein composed of four folded polypeptide subunits.

Sugar-Phosphate Backbone

The external framework of DNA strands that interacts with water while bases pair inside.