Organic Chemistry: Monomers and Polymers

This set of flashcards covers key concepts of organic chemistry related to monomers and polymers as discussed in Dr. Steven Haffner's lecture.

What are the four important biomolecules mentioned in the lecture?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids.

What are macromolecules?

Biomolecules that are large and consists of monomer subunits.

What is a polymer?

A large organic molecule formed by identical monomers joining together.

What elements do organic molecules predominantly contain?

Hydrogen (H), Carbon (C), and usually Oxygen (O).

What determines the chemistry of organic molecules?

The functional groups they contain.

Which functional group is found in amino acids?

Amino group.

Which functional group is known to be present in fatty acids?

Carboxyl group.

What is the ratio of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in carbohydrates?

1:2:1.

What are isomers?

Molecules with the same molecular formula but different structures.

What are monosaccharides?

Simple sugars that contain 3 to 7 carbon atoms.

What is glucose primarily known as?

An important fuel.

What are disaccharides?

Two monosaccharides condensed by dehydration synthesis.

What is sucrose made of?

Glucose and fructose.

What is maltose made of?

Two glucose molecules.

What is lactose composed of?

Glucose and galactose.

What are polysaccharides?

Polymers of many sugars condensed by dehydration synthesis.

Where is glycogen stored in humans?

In the liver and skeletal muscle.

What are the two main plant polysaccharides?

Starch and cellulose.

What major function do lipids perform?

Cell structure and energy reserves.

How do lipids compare to carbohydrates in terms of oxygen content?

Lipids contain less oxygen than carbohydrates.

What is a common characteristic of most lipids?

They are hydrophobic and insoluble in water.

What are the main classes of lipids?

Fatty acids, Eicosanoids, Glycerides, Steroids, Phospholipids, and Glycolipids.

What is a fatty acid composed of?

Long chains of carbon and hydrogen with a carboxyl group at one end.

What distinguishes saturated fatty acids from unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids contain only single bonds in their hydrocarbon tails, while unsaturated contain one or more double bonds.

What is an eicosanoid?

A class of lipids derived from arachidonic acid.

What are the two classes of eicosanoids?

Leukotrienes and Prostaglandins.

How is a monoglyceride formed?

By attaching one fatty acid to a glycerol molecule.

What are triglycerides also known as?

Triacylglycerols or neutral fats.

What important functions do triglycerides have?

Energy source, insulation, and protection.

What are steroids composed of?

Four-ringed carbon structures with functional groups.

What is the main function of cholesterol?

Component of plasma membranes.

What do phospholipids and glycolipids contribute to?

Structure of plasma membranes.

What are proteins predominantly made of?

Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and nitrogen (N).

How many amino acids are the monomers that make up proteins?

Twenty amino acids.

What is one of the major functions of proteins related to support?

Structural proteins.

What type of proteins are responsible for movement?

Contractile proteins.

What do transport proteins do?

Carry substances throughout the body.

What is a peptide bond?

The bond formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another.

What is the primary structure of a protein?

The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide.

What forms the secondary structure of proteins?

Hydrogen bonds that create spirals or pleats.

What is the tertiary structure of a protein?

Coiling and folding that produce a three-dimensional shape.

What defines quaternary structure in proteins?

Interaction of multiple polypeptide chains.

What is the role of enzymes?

To act as catalysts that lower the activation energy of reactions.

What are substrates in relation to enzymes?

The reactants that bind to an active site on an enzyme.

What does enzyme specificity mean?

Enzymes catalyze only one type of reaction.

What are cofactors?

Ions or molecules that bind to enzymes before substrates can bind.

What are coenzymes?

Nonprotein organic cofactors, often derived from vitamins.

What is denaturation?

A change in shape and loss of function of an enzyme due to heat or pH.

What do glycoproteins primarily consist of?

Large proteins and small carbohydrates.

What functions do glycoproteins serve?

Includes enzymes, antibodies, hormones, and components of plasma membranes.

What distinguishes proteoglycans?

Combinations of large polysaccharides and polypeptides.

What is the main function of nucleic acids?

To store and process genetic information.

What are the two types of nucleic acids?

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic acid (RNA).

What is the main component of DNA?

A pair of nucleotide strands forming a double helix.

What does a nucleotide consist of?

A pentose sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.

Which nitrogenous base is exclusive to DNA?

Thymine.

Which nitrogenous base is exclusive to RNA?

Uracil.

What are the three types of RNA?

Messenger RNA (mRNA), Transfer RNA (tRNA), Ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

What forms the structure of high-energy compounds?

Derived from nucleotides.

What is phosphorylation?

The process of adding a phosphate group to another molecule.

What is ATP?

Adenosine triphosphate, which contains three phosphate groups.

What enzyme catalyzes the conversion of ATP to ADP?

Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase).