NCSU BIO 183 Lisa Parks Exam 1

Macromolecules

Large molecules made up of smaller subunits, such as carbohydrates, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, used for energy storage and structural support.

Nucleic acids

Macromolecules, such as DNA and RNA, composed of nucleotides, involved in genetic information storage and protein synthesis.

Proteins

Macromolecules composed of amino acids, involved in various cellular functions, including structural support, enzymatic activity, and cell signaling.

Lipids

Macromolecules composed of hydrophobic molecules, such as fats and oils, used for energy storage, insulation, and cell membrane structure.

Structural isomer

Isomers that have the same molecular formula but differ in the arrangement of their atoms.

Stereoisomer

Isomers that have the same molecular formula and the same atom connectivity but differ in the spatial arrangement of their atoms.

Amino acid structure

a central carbon (C) atom bound to an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a side chain (R group).

Protein shape

Proteins have four levels of structure - primary (sequence of amino acids), secondary (local folding patterns), tertiary (overall 3D structure), and quaternary (multiple protein subunits).

Lipid components

Lipids are composed of glycerol and fatty acids.

Saturated fats

solid, rigid, butter, no double C bonds, structure has no bends

Cell Theory

The theory that states that all living organisms are composed of cells, cells are the basic units of structure and function, and all cells come from pre-existing cells.

Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes

Prokaryotes are single-celled organisms without a nucleus or membrane-bound organelles, while eukaryotes are organisms with a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.

Animal vs Plant Cells

Animal cells lack a cell wall and chloroplasts, while plant cells have a cell wall and chloroplasts.

Nucleus

Membrane-bound organelle that contains the cell's genetic material (DNA) and controls cellular activities.

Ribosomes

Cellular structures responsible for protein synthesis.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

attachment of ribosomes to the membrane, synthesis of proteins

Golgi Apparatus

Organelle involved in modifying, sorting, and packaging proteins for transport within the cell or secretion outside the cell.

Lysosomes

Membrane-bound organelles containing digestive enzymes, involved in breaking down waste materials and cellular debris.

Mitochondria

Organelles responsible for cellular respiration and energy production.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells responsible for photosynthesis and converting light energy into chemical energy.

Vacuoles

Membrane-bound sacs involved in storage, waste disposal, and maintaining cell turgor pressure.

Microtubules

Cytoskeletal structures involved in cell shape, cell division, and intracellular transport.

Endosymbiotic Theory

Theory that suggests that mitochondria and chloroplasts were once free-living prokaryotic organisms that were engulfed by ancestral eukaryotic cells and formed a symbiotic relationship.

Membrane functions

Membranes separate the cell from its environment, regulate the passage of molecules, and facilitate cell communication.

Phospholipids

Main structural component of cell membranes, consisting of a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails.

Peripheral proteins

Proteins that are loosely attached to the membrane surface

Cholesterol

A lipid molecule that helps regulate membrane fluidity and stability.

Membrane protein functions

Membrane proteins can act as transporters, receptors, enzymes, or structural components.

Passive Transport mechanisms

Passive transport includes diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis, and does not require energy input.

Active Transport mechanisms

Active transport includes primary active transport (using ATP) and secondary active transport (using an electrochemical gradient), and requires energy input.

Hyper, hypo, and isotonic

Hyper refers to a solution with a higher solute concentration, hypo refers to a solution with a lower solute concentration, and isotonic refers to a solution with an equal solute concentration compared to the cell.

Bulk transport

The movement of large molecules or particles across the cell membrane through endocytosis (taking in) or exocytosis (releasing).

Simple Diffusion

Selective permeability, integral membrane proteins allow cell to be selective about what passes through the membrane

Facilitated Diffusion

Movement of molecules from high to low concentration with the help of carrier proteins

Osmosis

Movement of water from an area of high to low concentration of water

Sodium-Potassium Pump (Primary)

moves 3Na+ out of the cell and 2K+ into the cell, ATP energy is used to change the conformation of the carrier protein

Secondary Active Coupled Transport

Uses the energy released when a molecule moves by diffusion to supply energy to active transport of a different molecule

ATP structure

ribose ( a 5 carbon sugar), adenine, three phosphate

Catalysts

substances that lower the activation energy of a reaction (can be enzyme or metal)

Enzymes

molecules that catalyze reactions in living cells, most are proteins, lower activation energy, are not changed or consumed by the reaction

Molecular Machines

machines provide structure and organization to cells and enable them to carry out complicated processes

Phospholipid Structure

1 glycerol, 2 fatty acids attached to glycerol, phosphate group attached to glycerol

Amino Acid Structure

central carbon atoms surrounded by amino group, carboxyl group, single H, variable R group

R group

reactive group, makes the protein different, dictates polar/nonpolar, fit, charge

Unsaturated fats

flexible, has double C bonds in the structure, vegetable oil

Triglycerides (fats)

composed of 1 glycerol + 3 fatty acids

Negative Feedback (feedback inhibition)

The end product of the pathways an allosteric inhibitor of an earlier enzyme in the pathway

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

relatively few ribosomes attached, synthesis of lipids, calcium storage, detoxification of foreign substances