Studied by 30 people
active site
a region on an enzyme that binds to a substrate during a reaction
allosteric site
The place on an enzyme where a molecule that is not a substrate may bind, thus changing the shape of the enzyme and influencing its ability to be active
amino acid
monomer of protein
amphipathic
having both a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region
carbohydrate
compound made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms; major source of energy for living organisms
carbon
element that makes up living things; forms many bonds
catalyst
substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction
denaturation
A process in which a protein unravels, losing its specific structure and hence function; can be caused by changes in pH or salt concentration or by high temperature. Also refers to the separation of the two strands of the DNA double helix, caused by similar factors.
dissacharide
A molecule made of two monosaccharides.
hydrogen bond
Attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom and a slightly negative atom.
hydrophilic
Attracted to water
hydrophobic
Having an aversion to water; tending to coalesce and form droplets in water.
ion
A charged atom
lipid
macromolecule made mostly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxes
macromolecule
A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules
monomer
A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
monosaccharide
A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.
nonpolar molecule
molecule that shares electrons equally and does not have oppositely charged ends
nucleic acid
macromolecule containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus
nucleotide
monomer of nucleic acids made up of a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base
organic molecule
A molecule containing carbon that is a part of or produced by living systems.
peptide bond
The chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid
polar molecule
molecule with an unequal distribution of charge, resulting in the molecule having a positive end and a negative end
polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
protein
A three dimensional polymer made of monomers of amino acids.
substrate
A specific reactant acted upon by an enzyme
cohesion
Attraction between molecules of the same substance
adhesion
An attraction between molecules of different substances
surface tension
the cohesive force at the surface of a body of liquid that prevents the molecules from separating
specific heat
The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1 degree Celcius
hydrophobic
Having an aversion to water; tending to coalesce and form droplets in water.
hydrophilic
Attracted to water
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules are bonded together with the removal of a water molecule.
hydrolysis
A chemical process that splits a molecule by adding water.
polysaccharide
Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides
monosaccharide
A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.
disaccharide
A double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis.
elements in carbohydrates
CHO in a 1:2:1 ratio
elements in lipids
CHO
elements in proteins
CHON
elements in nucleic acids
CHONP
saturated fatty acids
have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible and no double bonds
unsaturated fatty acids
A fatty acid possessing one or more double bonds between the carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton.
R group
a functional group that defines a particular amino acid and gives it special properties.
protein primary structure
amino acid sequence
protein secondary structure
alpha helix and beta pleated sheet formed by hydrogen bonds between atoms of the polypeptide backbone
pyrimidines
Cytosine and Thymine; nitrogen bases containing one ring
purines
Adenine and Guanine; nitrogen bases containing a double-ring structure
noncompetitive inhibitor
A substance that reduces the activity of an enzyme by binding to a location remote from the active site, changing its conformation so that it no longer binds to the substrate.
competitive inhibitor
A substance that reduces the activity of an enzyme by entering the active site in place of the substrate whose structure it mimics.
Note
Flashcard