Biochemistry Module 2: Amino Acids, Enzymes, Carbohydrates, Lipids, and Nucleic Acids

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering amino acid classification, enzyme properties, vitamins, carbohydrate and lipid structures, nucleic acids, and metabolic/genetic diseases from the lecture notes.

Glycine

A nonpolar amino acid with an $-H$ R group; 3-letter code: Gly, 1-letter code: G.

Phenylalanine

A nonpolar amino acid with a phenyl R group; 3-letter code: Phe, 1-letter code: F.

Tryptophan

A nonpolar aromatic amino acid with an indole R group; 1-letter code: W.

Proline

A nonpolar amino acid with an imino group; 1-letter code: P.

Methionine

A nonpolar sulfur-containing amino acid with a thioether R group; 3-letter code: Met, 1-letter code: M.

Cysteine

A polar sulfur-containing amino acid with a thiol R group; 3-letter code: Cys, 1-letter code: C.

Arginine

A basic amino acid with a guanidine R group; 3-letter code: Arg, 1-letter code: R.

Essential Amino Acids

The group includes FVTh WIM haLL (Phenylalanine, Valine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Methionine, Histidine, Arginine, Leucine, Lysine).

Holoenzyme

A complete, functional enzyme consisting of a protein portion and a non-protein portion.

Apoenzyme

The protein or amino acid portion of an enzyme.

Cofactor

The non-protein portion of an enzyme, which can be inorganic or organic (coenzymes).

Vitamin $B_1$ (Thiamine)

Coenzyme form is thiamine pyrophosphate; involved in aldehyde transfer and cell respiration; deficiency causes Beri-beri or Wernicke-korsakoff.

Pellagra

A deficiency disease caused by a lack of Vitamin $B_3$ (NAD).

Vitamin $B_9$ (Tetrahydrofolate)

Involved in 1-carbon transfers; deficiency causes Megalobastic anemia and neural tube defects.

Nyctalopia

Night blindness caused by a deficiency in Vitamin A (Retinal).

Oxidoreductase (EC 1)

An enzyme class that catalyzes RedOx reactions; includes oxidase, reductase, and dehydrogenase.

Lyase (EC 4)

An enzyme class that catalyzes addition or elimination reactions; includes De___ase, ___lase, and hydratase.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)

An enzyme that catalyzes hydrolysis of esters at basic pH; clinical marker for bone disease.

Creatinine kinase (CK)

An enzyme that adds phosphate to creatine; exists in isoforms CK-MM (muscle), CK-MB (heart), and CK-BB (brain).

Maltose

A disaccharide composed of $Glc-\alpha(1,4)-Glc$.

Sucrose

A disaccharide composed of $Glc-\alpha(1),\beta(2)-Fru$.

Chitin

A homoglycan polysaccharide composed of N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) units.

Hyaluronic acid

A non-sulfated GAG composed of N-acetylglucosamine + glucuronic acid; acts as a lubricant and shock absorber in joints.

Glycerophospholipids

Lipids composed of glycerol + 2 fatty acids + $PO_4$ with a head group; examples include Lecithin (Choline) and Cephalin (Ethanolamine).

Ganglioside

A sphingolipid with an acidic oligosaccharide head group containing neuraminic or sialic acid.

Phosphodiester bond

The key bond that connects a nucleotide to another nucleotide.

mRNA

Messenger RNA that serves as a template to transcribe a complementary DNA message and carries codons.

snRNA

Small nuclear RNA responsible for removing introns (splicing).

DNA polymerase

An enzyme that elongates DNA during replication; considered the most important replication enzyme.

Okazaki fragments

Fragments of the discontinuous (lagging) strand produced during DNA replication.

Trisomy 18

A genetic defect also known as Edward syndrome.

Von Gierke’s (Type 1)

A glycogen metabolism deficiency caused by a lack of Glucose-6-phosphatase.

Pompe’s (Type 2)

A glycogen metabolism deficiency caused by a lack of Lysosomal alpha-glucosidase.

Tay-Sachs

A sphingolipidosis caused by a deficiency in Hexosaminidase A.

Niemann-Pick

A sphingolipidosis caused by a deficiency in Sphingomyelinase.

Alkaptonuria

An aminoacidopathy involving Tyrosine metabolism due to a deficiency in Homogentisate oxidase; results in arthritis.

Phenylketonuria (PKU)

An aminoacidopathy involving Phenylalanine due to a deficiency in Phenylalanine hydroxylase; leads to retardation and mousy urine odor.

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD)

A metabolic defect involving branched-chain amino acids (L, I, V) caused by a deficiency in Branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase.