Biochemistry: Lipids and Proteins Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering lipids (phospholipids, steroids) and protein structure/enzymes based on the lecture notes.

Hydrophobic

Refers to non-polar molecules, such as hydrocarbons with carbon-hydrogen bonds, that do not mix with water.

Phospholipids

Molecules composed of a glycerol molecule with 2 fatty acid tails and a phosphate group, serving as major components of cell membranes.

Hydrophilic Head of Phospholipid

The polar phosphate group of a phospholipid molecule that interacts with water.

Hydrophobic Tails of Phospholipid

The non-polar hydrocarbon tails of a phospholipid molecule.

Steroids

Lipids composed of 4 fused carbon rings with various functional groups attached.

Cholesterol

A specific type of steroid composed of 4 fused carbon rings.

Proteins

The most abundant organic molecule in human cells, composed of chains of amino acids, which provide support, storage, transport, and catalyze reactions.

Amino acids

The building blocks of proteins that link together in chains; there are 20 total amino acids.

Peptide bond

The chemical bond that links amino acids to each other in a chain.

Peptide

Another name for a protein resulting from having many peptide bonds.

Primary structure

The sequence of amino acids in a chain, which is determined by genes.

Secondary structure

Protein structure resulting from bonds between non-consecutive amino acids, which may form an alpha helix or beta-pleated sheet.

Tertiary structure

Protein structure resulting from complex folding and coiling to give a three-dimensional shape to the molecule.

Quaternary structure

Protein structure involving the interaction of different chains of amino acids.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts, almost all of which are proteins, that cause chemical reactions to occur faster and can be used repeatedly; their names usually end in -ase.

Denature

The process where an enzyme's tertiary and quaternary structure is changed due to high temperature or extreme pH, causing it to lose function.