Biological Macromolecules and Carbohydrates

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the introduction to biological macromolecules, the processes of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis, and a detailed classification and functional analysis of carbohydrates based on the provided lecture notes.

Biological Macromolecules

Large organic molecules essential for life, including carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomer

A small molecular unit that serves as the building block for larger molecules.

Polymer

A large molecule made up of many monomers joined together.

Dehydration Synthesis

The chemical process of joining two monomers together to form a larger molecule (polymer) with the removal of water.

Hydrolysis

The chemical process of breaking down large biological molecules into smaller units by adding water.

Carbohydrates

The most abundant biomolecules on Earth and the primary source of energy for living organisms; their general formula is $(CH_2O)_n$.

Lipids

Biological macromolecules used for energy storage and as major components of cell membranes.

Proteins

Macromolecules that carry out many cell functions such as structure, enzymatic activity, transport, signaling, growth, and repair.

Nucleic Acids

Biomolecules, such as DNA and RNA, that store and transmit hereditary or genetic information.

Enzymes

Proteins that speed up chemical reactions, such as hydrolysis, in the body.

Amylase

The specific enzyme that digests carbohydrates into sugars.

Lipase

The specific enzyme that digests lipids into glycerol and fatty acids.

Peptidase

The specific enzyme that digests proteins into amino acids.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars consisting of a single sugar unit, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose.

Aldose

A classification of monosaccharide based on the presence of an aldehyde group (carbonyl group at the end of the carbon chain).

Ketose

A classification of monosaccharide based on the presence of a ketone group (carbonyl group within the carbon chain).

Triose

A monosaccharide containing three carbon atoms, such as glyceraldehyde.

Pentose

A monosaccharide containing five carbon atoms, such as ribose.

Hexose

A monosaccharide containing six carbon atoms, such as glucose ($C_6H_{12}O_6$).

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed when two monosaccharides combine.

Glycosidic Bond

The type of chemical bond formed between two monosaccharides during the formation of a disaccharide.

Maltose

A disaccharide composed of $\text{Glucose} + \text{Glucose}$.

Lactose

A disaccharide composed of $\text{Glucose} + \text{Galactose}$.

Sucrose

A disaccharide composed of $\text{Glucose} + \text{Fructose}$.

Polysaccharides

Complex carbohydrates composed of many monosaccharides, used for storage or structural support.

Starch

The energy storage form of glucose in plants.

Glycogen

The storage form of glucose in animals, found in the liver and muscles.

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide found in plant cell walls that humans cannot digest because they lack the enzyme cellulase.

Chitin

A structural polysaccharide found in the exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans, as well as fungal cell walls.