Module 2 - Molecules of Life

what are the major elements of life

CHONP

why is water a universal solvent

it can dissolve more types of molecules than any other molecule

hydrogen bond

weak bond formed between H covalently linked to another atom and an electronegative atom (O or N)

hydrophillic

molecules that form hydrogen bonds with water. water loving

hydrophobic

molecules that do not form hydrogen bonds with water. water fearing

what is pH

concentration of protons (H) in a solution

what are 2 biological processes that pH is important for

protein structure and enzyme activity

in order if mass, what is the body’s composition of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen

what are organic molecules

molecules containing carbon

what are the 4 biological molecules

proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, carbohydrates

what is the role of proteins in the cell

enzymes, transport, regulation, movement, support, defense

what is the role of nucleic acids

encode and transmit genetic information, energy

what is the role of carbohydrates

provide structural support and source of energy

what is the role of lipids

make up cell membranes, store energy, cell communication

what is a macromolecule

large molecule built from smaller organic ones

what is a condensation rxn

monomers covalently bonding by releasing water as a byproduct, requires energy

what is a hydrolysis rxn

polymers breaking down into monomers by addition of a water, release

what elements form a polar functional group

nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur because of their high EN

polypeptide

amino acids covalently linked into a polymer

what is the general structure of an amino acid

central alpha carbon, amino group, carboxyl group, H, and R group

what is the physiological pH

7.4

what happens to amino acids at physiological pH

ionization. the amino group becomes positive (base) and the carboxyl group becomes negative (acid). can think of it as carboxyl donating H to amino

what is a zwitterion

molecule with both positive and negative groups

what joins amino acids

peptide bond, covalent

what happens in the formation of a peptide bond

carboxyl group loses O, amino group loses 2 H and water is released

2 types of nucleic acids

DNA and RNA

what are nucleotides composed of 

nitrogenous base, pentose (5C) sugar, and phosphate group(s)

what is a purine

double ringed nitrogenous base, A and G

what is a pyrimadine

single ringed nitrogenous base, C T and U

sugar in DNA

deoxyribose

sugar in RNA

ribose

structure of thymine vs uracil

thymine has methyl (CH3) group, uracil doesn’t

what is a nucleoside

a nitrogenous base and a sugar

what kind of nucleic acid is ATP

RNA, ribose as its sugar

functions of a nucleotide

monomer of nucleic acids, cell signaling (cAMP), energy, coenzymes/cofactors

what are coenzymes/cofactors

organic non-protein molecules needed of enzyme function. typically contain adenosine nucleotides and a B vitamin

how do nucleotides bond

phosphodiester bond via condensatio

which side of a nucleic acid is the top

5’

which side of a nucleic acid is the bottom

3’

which way does a strand of nucleotides grow when nucleotides join

5’ to 3’

how many H bonds between A and T

two

how many H bonds between C and G

three

what is the typical ratio of C:H:O in a carbohydrate

1:2:1

monomer of a carbohydrate, special property

monosaccharide, 5/6 C in a linear or cyclic form

chemical formula of a 6 carbon sugar

C6H12O6

what are isomers

molecules with the same chemical formula but different structure and function

what is the linkage between monosaccharides

glycosidic bond, requires condensation

why dont disaccharides follow the general 1:2:1 C,H,O ratio

because water was lost, 2 less H and 1 less O (C12H22,O11)

whats an oligosaccharide

a few monosaccharides joining

what are oligosaccharides commonly attached to

lipids (forming glycolipid) and protein (forming glycoprotein)

function of polysaccharide

long-term energy storage and structural support

why aren’t lipid considered polymers

doesn’t form by linkage of monomers

how does the cell use triacylglycerol

energy storage (fat and oils)

how does the cell use steroids

regulation in cell membrane

how does the cell use phospholipids

cell membranes

what are the components of a triacylglycerol

three fatty acids and glycerol

what is a saturated fatty acid

no double bonds between carbons, more solid (butter)

what is an unsaturated fatty acids

double bonds between carbons, more fluid (oil)

what is the structure of glycerol

3 carbons and a hydroxyl attached to each

what is the structure of a steroid

4 fused rings, all derived from cholesterol

what are the functions of cholesterol

membrane regulation and precursor to steroid hormone synthesis

what is the structure if a phospholipid

glycerol attached to a phosphate group with a polar group (polar head) and 2 fatty acids (non-polar tail)

what does amphipathic mean

having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions