AP Bio Chapter 3 Unit 1: Chemistry of Life

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Carbon

A chemical element that naturally occurs in all organic compounds and is found in all forms of life

It can form large, complex, varied molecules

Hydrocarbon

Organic molecules consisting only of carbon and hydrogen

Vitalism

Mechanism

Organic molecules

Macromolecules made up of carbon and hydrogen but can include other elements

Examples: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

Valence

Unpaired electrons on the outer shell

(Structural) Isomer

One of two or more compounds that have the same number and kinds of atoms but with different geometric arrangements

Example: Pentane and 2-Methylbutane

Cis-trans isomer

The carbons have covalent bonds to the same atom, but the atoms differ in spatial arrangement due to inflexible double bonds

Example: cis— But-2-ene & trans— But-2-ene

Enantiomers

Isomers that are mirror images of each other (cannot be superimposed on top of each other); usually only one is biologically active

Example: L-glucose and D-glucose

Macromolecules

A molecule containing a very large number of atoms

Examples: Any organic molecules, synthetic polymers such as polyester or nylon

Polymer

Long molecule consisting of monomers

Example: Any organic molecules, cellulose, etc.

Monomer

Atoms or small molecules that bond together to form polymers

Dehydration

Two monomers bond together through the loss of a water molecule (synthesizing)

Hydrolysis

The bond between two monomers break when a water molecule is added (breaking down)

Carbohydrates

An organic compound made of sugars used as fuel or building materials

Monosaccharides

Simplest forms of sugar; most basic units which make up disaccharides and polysaccharides

Example: glucose, fructose, galactose

Disaccharides

Sugars made up of two monosaccharides

Example: sucrose, lactose, maltose

Polysaccharides

Sugars made up of more than two monosaccharides

Examples: starch, glycogen, cellulose

Lipids

Organic compounds that are hydrophobic and made of mostly hydrocarbons in covalent bonds; used in energy storage, cell membrane structural components, insulation

Hydrophobic

Little to no affinity for water

Phospholipids

Major component of the cell membrane (phospholipid bilayer); made up of 2 fatty acids and a phosphate group; kink due to double bonds

Steroids

Lipids made up of four fused rings

Examples: sex hormones (testosterone and estrogen), cholesterol, bile acids

Saturated fat

Fatty acid molecule WITHOUT double bonds

Unsaturated fat

a fat or fatty acid in which there is at least one double bond within the fatty acid chain

Proteins

Organic macromolecule made up of polypeptide chains that are joined by peptide bonds; contain a carboxyl group, amino group, and r group

Types of proteins

antibodies, contractile proteins, enzymes, hormonal proteins, structural proteins, storage proteins, and transport proteins

Denaturation

The loss of a protein’s native structure due to amino acid sequence alterations or a change in pH, salt concentration, or temperature

Nucleic acids

Also called polynucleotides; made up of nucleotides; store and express genomic information

Examples: DNA and RNA

Nucleotides

Monomers of nucleic acids; consist of a nitrogenous base, a pentane sugar, and one or more phosphate groups (only has one in DNA)

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid; a type of nucleic acid which carries genetic information; made up of a double-stranded helix that consist of nucleotides with one phosphate group and a deoxyribose sugar; has directionality with 5’ and 3’ ends

RNA

Ribonucleic acid; a type of nucleic acid which contain instructions for protein synthesis; made up of a single-stranded helix that consist of nucleotides with one phosphate group and a ribose sugar

Primary level

The sequence of amino acids that make up the protein (determined by genes + linked by peptide bonds)

Secondary level

The folding of the amino acid chain; depends on the amino acid arrangement and hydrogen bonds

Tertiary level

Folding into 3D shape of the protein caused by the interactions of different R-groups in each amino acid

Examples: hydrophilic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, ionic bonds, Van Der Waals interactions. hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds

Quaternary level

Protein consisting of more than one polypeptide chain

Polypeptide

unbranched polymers built from the same set of 20 amino acids

Amino acid

Molecules that make up proteins and polypeptide chains

Glycerol

3-carbon chain that forms triglycerides with fatty acids

Fatty acids

Serve as a source of energy and are an important component of triglycerides

Triglycerides

Type of lipid formed by glycerol and fatty acids; used for energy storage