IB Bio Biochem

Adhesion

an attraction between different substances; water attracted to other substances

Carbohydrate

an essential structural component of living cells and source of energy for animals

Carbon

a naturally abundant nonmetallic element that occurs in many inorganic and in all organic compounds

Carboxyl

an oxygen atom is double bonded to a carbon atom that is also bonded to an -OH group- carboxylic acid

Cellulose

a polysaccharide that is the chief constituent of all plant tissues and fibers

Chitin

complex carbohydrate that makes up the cell walls of fungi; also found in the external skeletons of arthropods

Cholesterol

A steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids.

Cis-

The isomer in which the substituents are on the same side of the double bond.

Condensation Reaction

A reaction in which two molecules become covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a small molecule, usually water; also called dehydration reaction.

Covalent Bond

a chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule

Dehydration Synthesis

a chemical reaction in which large molecules are formed by removing water from smaller molecules and joining them together

Deoxyribose

the sugar component of DNA nucleotides, having one fewer hydroxyl group than ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides.

Disaccharide

A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.

Fatty Acid

A long carbon chain carboxylic acid. vary in length and in the number and location of double bonds; three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule form fat

Fructose

an isomer of glucose; it has the same chemical formula (C6 H12 O6) but its atoms are arranged differently

Glucose

the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger.

Glycerol

Three-carbon compound with three hydroxyl groups; component of fats and oils.

Glycogen

An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.

Hydrocarbon

an organic compound containing only carbon and hydrogen

Hydrogen

Weak bonds between the 2 DNA strands.

Hydrogen Bond

A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.

Hydrolysis Reaction

Reaction in which a covalent bond between two subunits is broken through the addition of the equivalent of a water molecule; a hydrogen atom is added to one subunit and a hydroxyl group to the other.

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water; readily absorbing or dissolving in water.

Hydrophobic

Repelling, tending not to combine with, or incapable of dissolving in water.

Inorganic

Chemical substances that lack carbon and hydrogen

Ionic Bond

a chemical bond in which one atom loses an electron to form a positive ion and the other atom gains to electron to form a negative ion

Iron

helps red blood cells carry oxygen

Isomer

compounds with the same simple formula but different three-dimensional structures resulting in different physical and chemical properties

Lactose

a sugar comprising one glucose molecule linked to a galactose molecule

Lipid

macromolecule made mainly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes

Macromolecule

A type of giant molecule formed by joining smaller molecules which includes proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids.

Maltose

A disaccharide made of glucose + glucose.

Monomer

The subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer.

Monosaccharide

a simple sugar that is the basic subunit, or monomer, of a carbohydrate

Nitrogen

protein synthesis requires it and sulfur. DNA, RNA, ATP require it and phosphorus.

Non-Polar

a molecule in which all atoms have the same electronegativity and the electron distribution is equal

Nucleic Acid

Macromolecule containing hydrogen, Oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus

Organic

compounds that contain carbon

Oxygen

A waste gas produced by plants during photosynthesis which is used by all the plants and animals during cellular respiration.

Phosphate Group

A chemical group consisting of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms; important in energy transfer.

Phospholipid

A molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail.

Phosphorous

2nd most abundant mineral. maintains acid base balance of cellular fluids. part of each cells' DNA and RNA. essential for growth and renewal of tissues.

Polar

having a pair of equal and opposite charges

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.

Polysaccharide

any of a class of carbohydrates whose molecules contain chains of monosaccharide molecules

Protein

macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; needed by the body for growth and repair and to make up enzymes

Ribose

the pentose connected to the nitrogenous base in the nucleotides of RNA

Saturated

fats with the maximum number of hydrogens

Sodium

maintains cell fluids; helps nerves communicate

Solute

substance that is dissolved in a solvent to make a solution

Solvent

Substance in which a solute is dissolved to form a solution

Starch

polysaccharide in plant cells that consists entirely of glucose monomers

Sterol

A type of lipid that does not contain fatty acids; cholesterol is the most commonly known of these lipids.

Sucrose

a complex carbohydrate found in many plants and used as a sweetening agent glucose and fructose

Sulfur

a mineral present in the body as part of some proteins.

Trans

across, through

Triglyceride

3 fatty acids (chains of hydrocarbons) bonded to a glycerol, most fats are eaten and absorbed in this form, carbohydrate

Unsaturated

having less than the maximum number of hydrogens, like fatty acids and fats with double bonds

Wax

a type of structural lipid consisting of a long fatty-acid chain that is joined to a long alcohol chain

Lysozymes

Used to support the immune system by fighting off infections. They are commonly found in tears

Alpha neurotoxins

Inhibit the release of neurotransmitters, which can lead to signal blockage and paralysis

Glucagon

A hormone that signals for the liver to transform glucose into a usable form and release it into the bloodstream

Myoglobin

Facilitated the release of oxygen into the bloodstream by storing O2 in the muscles to be used for cellular respiration

Functions of carbohydrates

Structure (cellulose)

Energy storage (starch and glycogen)

Amylose

A linear carbohydrate formed by 1-4 glycosidic bonds

Amylopectin

A branch patterned carbohydrate with 1-4 and 1-6 glycosidic bonds

Uses for glycoproteins

Cell to cell signaling

Receptors

Ligands (molecules that bid to receptors)

Structural support

Functions of lipids

Energy storage

Hormone production (steroids)

Source of nutrients

Structural role in membranes

Causes of denaturing

pH change causes a change in charge

Temperature change alters bonding

Globular proteins

Usually circular or semicircular and are soluble

Fibrous proteins

long and skinny proteins that are usually insoluble

Hydroxyl

OH

Carbonyl

O=C

Carboxyl

C=O and C-OH

Phosphate group

PO4

Amino

NH2

Protein functions

Catalyse the rate and direction of reactions

Can be hormones which are chemical messengers to cells

Hemoglobin in RBC that transports oxygen

Membrane proteins for cell/tissue recognition/cell adhesion/communication