Organic Chemistry Monomers and Polymers

What are the four important biomolecules discussed in the lecture?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids.

What are biomolecules primarily classified as?

Macromolecules.

What do macromolecules of life consist of?

Monomer subunits.

What is a polymer?

A molecule formed by joining identical monomers together.

What elements do organic molecules primarily contain?

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

What type of bonding do organic molecules involve?

Covalent bonding.

What determines the chemistry of organic molecules?

Functional groups.

Which functional group is found in amino acids?

Amino group.

Which functional group is found in fatty acids?

Carboxyl group.

What is the typical 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 the three categories of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides.

What are monosaccharides?

Simple sugars containing 3 to 7 carbon atoms.

What is glucose?

An important fuel and a hexose sugar.

What is fructose?

Fruit sugar, a type of hexose.

What is the composition of a disaccharide?

Two monosaccharides condensed by dehydration synthesis.

What is sucrose composed of?

Glucose and fructose.

What is maltose?

A disaccharide made of two glucose molecules.

What is lactose?

A disaccharide made of glucose and galactose.

What are polysaccharides?

Polymers of many sugars condensed by dehydration synthesis.

Where is glycogen stored in humans?

Liver and skeletal muscle.

What is the primary function of cellulose?

Provides roughage in the diet.

What do lipids primarily contain?

Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

What is the carbon to hydrogen ratio in lipids?

1:2.

Why are lipids considered hydrophobic?

They are insoluble in water.

What are the primary functions of lipids?

Structure of cells and energy reserves.

Name a class of lipids.

Fatty acids.

What structure do fatty acids have?

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

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids?

Saturated fatty acids contain only single bonds; unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds.

What are eicosanoids derived from?

Arachidonic acid.

What are the two classes of eicosanoids?

Leukotrienes and prostaglandins.

What is a monoglyceride?

Glycerol plus one fatty acid.

What is a triglyceride?

Glycerol plus three fatty acids.

What are the functions of triglycerides?

Energy source, insulation, and protection.

What defines steroid structures?

Four-ringed carbon structures with various functional groups.

What is cholesterol?

A component of plasma membranes.

What are phospholipids?

Structural lipids consisting of a diglyceride attached to a phosphate group.

What do proteins primarily contain?

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

What are the monomers that combine to form proteins?

Amino acids.

What is one support function of proteins?

Structural support.

What is one function of enzymes?

Lower the activation energy of a chemical reaction.

What occurs during dehydration synthesis of amino acids?

The amino group of one amino acid links with the carboxyl group of another to form a peptide bond.

What is the primary structure of a protein?

The sequence of amino acids along a polypeptide.

What is secondary structure in proteins?

Hydrogen bonds forming spirals or pleats.

What does tertiary structure refer to in proteins?

Coiling and folding producing a three-dimensional shape.

What is quaternary structure?

The final protein complex produced by interacting polypeptide chains.

What are globular proteins?

Soluble spheres with active functions.

What type of proteins serve as catalysts?

Enzymes.

What do cofactors do in enzyme function?

They bind to enzymes before substrates can bind.

What can coenzymes be classified as?

Nonprotein organic cofactors, often derived from vitamins.