Biological Macromolecules Unit 4 BIO

These flashcards cover key concepts related to biological macromolecules as introduced in the lecture notes, focusing on definitions and significance within biology.

Biological Macromolecules

Organic large molecules built from smaller units, making up most of a cell’s dry mass (examples include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids).

Dehydration Synthesis

Chemical reaction where monomers combine to form polymers, with the loss of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

Chemical reaction that breaks down polymers into monomers by adding a water molecule.

Monomer

The smallest unit of a larger molecule that is a polymer.

Polymer

A chain of multiple monomers bonded together.

Carbohydrates

Biological macromolecules serving as energy sources and structural support in cells, with the formula Cx(H2O)y.

Monosaccharide

The simplest form of sugar, usually consisting of 3-7 carbon atoms and having the formula (CH2O)n.

Disaccharide

A sugar formed from the covalent bonding of two monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides

Long chains of monosaccharides linked by glycosidic bonds, such as starch and cellulose.

Triglyceride

Fats composed of glycerol and three fatty acids, formed by dehydration synthesis.

Steroid

Lipids characterized by a structure of four fused hydrocarbon rings.

Peptide Bond

Covalent bond formed between the amino group of one amino acid and the carboxyl group of another.

Amino Acid

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

Nucleotide

Basic building block of nucleic acids, containing a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid that carries genetic instructions and is structured as a double helix.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, essential for protein synthesis and can function as a template for production of proteins.

Phosphodiester Linkage

Bond that links nucleotides together in nucleic acids, forming the sugar-phosphate backbone.

Enzyme

A protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions by lowering the activation energy.

Cis and Trans Fatty Acids

Cis fatty acids have bent structures that prevent tight packing; trans fatty acids have linear shapes that allow close packing.

Hydrophobic

Substances that do not mix with water.

Glycogen

Branched polymer for glucose storage in animals

Chitin

Fibrous, N containing polysaccharide( long chain of sugar units) forming the major constituent in exoskeleton of arthropods and fungal cell walls Ex. Found in arthropods, cell walls of fungi, sometimes in mollusk shells

Cellulose

Most abundant bipolymer forming rigid plant cell walls - humans can’t digest cellulose, herbivores can

Starch

Carbohydrate polymers storing excess glucose in plants - primarily in plant roots and seeds

Polysaccharides

Long chain of monosachcharides linked by glycosidic bonds Ex. Starch, cellulose, glycogen

Glycosidic Bond

Covalent bond between monosaccharides

Disaccharide (double sugar)

Sugar forms when 2 monosaccharides joined by glycosidic bond via dehydration reaction

Monosaccharides (simple sugar)

Simplest form of sugar, most basic unit (monomer) from which all carbs are built

Lipids

Non polar, hydrophobic compounds composed of hydrocarbon chains (energy reserves, insulation and structural components of a cell ex. Fats, oils, waxes

Fat

Molecules consisting of glycerol and fatty acids

Glycerol

3 carbon molecule with three hydroxyl (OH) groups that form the backbone of triglycerides and phospholipids

Fatty Acids

Long hydrocarbon chains with carboxyl group linked to glycerol by ester bond

Ester Bond (ester Linkange)

Covalent bond with general formula COO connects double bonds C to O atom, then attached to an O in glycerol

Omega Fatty Acids

Polyunsaturated fat required by body but is not synthesized Ex. Salmon, trout

Wax

Long fatty acid esterified to long chain alcohols

Steroid

Lipid with 4 fused hydrocarbon rings forming a planar structure

Amphipathic

A molecules that has both hydrophilic (water loving) part and hydrophobic (water repelling) part

Protein

Large molecule constructed from amino acid polymers forming complex structures with diverse functions

Hormone

Class of signaling protein molecules sent to distant organs or tissues by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior

Amino Acids

Monomers comprising proteins

Peptide bond

Formed by combining amino acids with amine group of one amino acid with carboxylic acid on another

Polypeptide

Chain of linked amino acids with distinct terminals (free amino group at one end (N terminal), free carboxyl group at other (C terminal)

Primary Structure

Unique sequence of amino acids in polypeptide chain

Secondary Structure

H bonding of peptide backbone causes aminos to fold into repeating pattern

Tertiary structure

Proteins unique 3D shape caused primarily by R group (side chain) interactions

Quaternary Structure

Proteins with multiple polypeptide subunits with many interactions between subunits

Nucleotide

Contains nitrogenous base, Pentose sugar, phosphate group

Polynucleotides (DNA RNA)

Chains of nucleotide monomers

Nucleus acids (DNA RNA)

Carry genetic instructions for the cells functioning

DNA

Nucleic acid that is a polymer of 2 polynucleotide chains coiled around each other forming double helix

RNA

Polymeric nuclei acid molecule essential for most biological functions, either performing function itself (non coding RNA) or forming template for production of proteins

Phosphodiester Linkage

Linked at 3 inch and 5 inch, covalent bond that joins the phosphate group of one nucleotide to the sugar of the next nucleotide in nuclei in acid chain (DNA OR RNA) - sugar phosphate backbone of DNA and RNA