BIOL 1406- Chapter 3 Review- Prof. Wauer

What is Eduard Buchner’s experiment with yeast fermentation implied in terms of biochemistry:

In 1897, Eduard Buchner discovered that yeast extract with no living yeast fungi can form alcohol from a sugar solution. The conclusion was that biochemical processes do not necessarily require living cells, but are driven by special substances, enzymes, formed in cells.

What are the four major classes of biological macromolecules?

1) Carbohydrates

2) Lipids

3) Protein

4) Nucleic Acids

Biological molecules are predominantly comprised of what elements?

Carbon, O, N, S, P, or H

What is the significance of functional groups?

Functional groups are specific molecular groups that bond to carbon-hydrogen cores

Define Isomer:

Molecules with the same molecular or empirical formula

Define Structural Isomer:

Differ in structure of carbon skeleton

Define Stereoisomer:

Differ in how groups are attached

Define Molecular formula

Describes what atoms and how many are in a molecule

What are the Monomers and Polymers in Carbohydrates?

Monomer: Monosaccharides

Polymers: Disaccharides and Polysaccharides

What are the Monomers and Polymers in Nucleic Acids?

Monomer: Nucleotides

Polymer: Nucleic Acids

What are the Monomers and Polymers in Proteins?

Monomer: Amino Acids

Polymer: Proteins

What are the Monomers and Polymers in Lipids?

Monomers: Glycerol and Fatty acids

Polymers: Triglycerides and Diglycerides

What reaction formed the bonds between monomers?

* Dehydration synthesis is the formation of large molecules by the removal of water


* Monomers are joined to from polymers

What reactions breaks down the bonds in polymers?

* Hydrolysis is the breakdown of large molecules by the addition of water
* Polymers are broken down to monomers

What is significant about fructose vs glucose?

* Glucose is C_6 H_12 O_6
* Fructose is a structural isomer of glucose
* Galactose is a stereoisomer of glucose

What is Elemental composition?

refers to the proportion of each element present in a substance or sample

What is basic structure?

refers to the fundamental unit or arrangement of an organism or system

What is a Monomer?

Small, similar chemical subunits (simple building blocks)

What is a Polymer?

Build by linking monomers

What is the function of a Molecule?

A molecule serves as a stable structure formed by the combination of two or more atoms that determines the properties and behavior of substances in various chemical and biological processes

What are the bonds that holds Molecules together?

* Covalent Bonds: This is a bond formed by the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
* Ionic Bonds: These are formed by the transfer of electrons from one atom to another.
* Hydrogen Bonds: These are a type of weak bond that occurs when a hydrogen atom bonded to a strongly electronegative atom is attracted to another electronegative atom in a different molecule or a different part of the same molecule.
* Van der Waals Bond: These forces are weaker than covalent, ionic, or hydrogen bonds but can be significant, especially in larger molecules.

What is the composition of a Nucleotide

sugar + phosphate + nitrogenous base

What are the different Nitrogenous Bases?

Purines: Adenine and Guanine

Pyrimidines: Thymine, Cytosine, Uracil

How does DNA differ from RNA?

* RNA contains ribose sugar while DNA contains deoxyribose sugar
* Includes the base uracil (U) instead of thymine (T)

What is the significance of ATP, NAD+, and FAD?

* ATP is the primary energy currency of the cell.
* NAD+ and FAD are the electron carriers for many cellular reactions

What type of biological molecules are ATP, NAD+, and FAD?

* ATP is a nucleotide triphosphate
* NAD+ is a dinucleotide
* FAD is a dinucleotide

What is Primary Structure?

Is the sequence of amino acids

What is Secondary Structure?

Is the interaction of groups in the peptide backbone

What is Tertiary Structure?

Is the final folded shape of a globular protein; 3-D structure

What is Quaternary Structure?

Is the arrangement of individual chains (subunits) in a protein with two or more polypeptide chains.

Where are hydrophobic amino acids found in a protein?

Hydrophobic amino acids are found in the interior of the protein

Where are Hydrophilic amino acids found in a protein?

Hydrophilic amino acids are found along the exterior of the protein

What is the significance of Chaperone proteins and what happens when they are deficient?

* Chaperone proteins help proteins fold correctly
* Deficiencies in chaperone proteins are implicated in certain diseases

What is Protein Denaturation and what are the conditions that can lead to it?

Protein Denaturation is when a protein loses its tertiary structure by unfolding and thereby also its function due to environmental conditions such as:

* pH
* Temperature
* Ionic concentration of solution

Differentiate between triglycerides, fatty acids, and phospholipids

Triglycerides are composed of one glycerol and three fatty acids

Fatty acids

* Need to be identical.
* Chain length varies
* Saturated – no double bonds between carbon atoms

-Higher melting point, animal origin (usually solid at room temperature)

-Straight chained

* Unsaturated – one or more double bonds

-Low melting point, plant origin (usually liquid at room temperature)

-Chain with a kink or bend in it