KA Foundation 1: Biomolecules

From Khan Academy

enzymes

catalysts in biochemical reactions

-proteins

-participate in different types of reactions and may break down, link up, or rearrange their substrates

salivary amylase

enzyme that breaks down amylose into smaller sugars in the mouth, beginning carbohydrate digestion

hormones

long-distance chemical signals released by endocrine glands

-can be lipids or proteins

-control specific physiological processes, such as growth development, metabolism, and reproduction

globular

being shaped like a globe or sphere

fibrous

composed of long, thin fibers

denaturation

the process that modifies the molecular structure of a protein or nucleic acid

-could be due to changes in pH, temperature, or exposure to certain chemicals

-the change in structure could make it lose its functionality

amino acids

monomers that make up proteins

basic structure of amino acids

alpha carbon, carboxyl group, amine group, hydrogen atom, R group

protonated, deprotonated

at physiological pH (7.2-7.4), amine groups are typically ____ and carboxyl groups are typically ____ in amino acids

amino acids with electrically charged side chains

arginine, histidine, lysine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid

amino acids with polar uncharged side chains

serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine

amino acids with nonpolar side chains

alanine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, phenylalanine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine

amino acids with miscellaneous side chains

cysteine, glycine, proline, selenocysteine