Biomolecules & Protein Folding

Flashcards covering key concepts related to biomolecules and protein folding.

Macromolecules

Large molecules made up of repeating subunits called monomers; include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomer

The simplest unit of a macromolecule, which can be combined to form polymers.

Dehydration Synthesis

A reaction that connects monomers by removing water and requires energy.

Hydrolysis

A reaction that breaks down macromolecules by adding water, releasing energy.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, typically in a 1:2:1 ratio, functioning mainly as energy sources.

Lipids

Fats, oils, and waxes that serve as long-term energy storage, hormone signaling, and waterproofing.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers made of nucleotides, functioning in the storage and transfer of genetic information.

Proteins

Polymers made of amino acids, responsible for almost all functions in the body, including enzyme activity and transport.

Peptide Bond

A bond formed between amino acids, linking them into a polypeptide chain.

Primary Structure (of proteins)

The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, determined by DNA.

Secondary Structure (of proteins)

The local folded structures that form within a protein due to hydrogen bonding, including alpha helices and beta sheets.

Tertiary Structure (of proteins)

The three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide, formed by interactions between R groups.

Quaternary Structure (of proteins)

The structure formed when two or more polypeptides assemble into a functional protein.

Amphipathic

Molecules like phospholipids that have both polar (hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) regions.