Chapter 3: The Chemical Building Blocks of Life

Practice flashcards from the lecture on the chemical building blocks of life covering key concepts about macromolecules, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and their structures and functions.

What is the primary building block of biological molecules?

Carbon is the primary building block, typically bonded with O, N, S, P, or H.

What are hydrocarbons?

Molecules that consist only of carbon and hydrogen; they are nonpolar.

What are functional groups?

Specific molecular groups that bond to carbon-hydrogen cores and have unique chemical properties that influence the behavior of the molecules.

What are macromolecules?

Polymers built by linking together monomers, which are small, similar chemical subunits.

What is a monomer?

A small, similar chemical subunit that links together to form polymers.

What is dehydration synthesis?

The formation of large molecules by the removal of water, joining monomers to form polymers.

What is hydrolysis?

The breakdown of large molecules by the addition of water, breaking down polymers into monomers.

What is the empirical formula for carbohydrates?

(CH2O)n, indicating that carbohydrates hold energy in C—H covalent bonds.

What are monosaccharides?

Simplest carbohydrates that serve as monomers, with examples like glucose, fructose, and galactose.

What are disaccharides?

Two monosaccharides joined by dehydration synthesis, used for energy transport or storage, such as sucrose and lactose.

What are polysaccharides?

Long chains of monosaccharides formed by dehydration synthesis; examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.

What are nucleic acids?

Polymers made of nucleotides which consist of a sugar, phosphate, and nitrogenous base.

What are the main nitrogenous bases in nucleic acids?

Adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine, and uracil.

What is the primary energy currency of the cell?

ATP (Adenosine triphosphate).

What are the functions of proteins?

Enzyme catalysis, defense, transport, support, motion, regulation, and storage.

What is a peptide bond?

A bond formed between the amino end and carboxyl end of two adjacent amino acids through dehydration synthesis.

What is primary structure in proteins?

The linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

What is tertiary structure in proteins?

The final folded shape of a globular protein, stable and consisting of a single polypeptide chain.

What is denaturation?

The loss of a protein's structure and function due to environmental factors such as pH, temperature, or ionic concentration.

What are lipids characterized by?

They are a loosely defined group of molecules that are insoluble in water.

What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?

Saturated fats have no double bonds between carbon atoms and usually have a higher melting point, while unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds and typically a lower melting point.

What do phospholipids consist of?

They are composed of glycerol, two fatty acids (nonpolar tails), and a phosphate group (polar head).

What is the structure of a phospholipid bilayer?

It is formed where hydrophilic heads point outward and hydrophobic tails point inward, creating a barrier.