Studied by 4 people
organic compounds
a chemical compound containing carbon and usually synthesized by cells
functional groups
the atoms that forms the chemically reactive part of an organic molecule
polymers
a large molecule consisting of many identical or similar molecular units, called monomers, covalently joined together in a chain
monomers
a chemical subunit that serves as a building block of a polymer
dehydration synthesis (condensation)
a chemical reaction that removes a molecule of water
hydrolysis
a chemical process in which macromolecules are broken down by the chemical addition of water molecules to the bonds linking their monomers; an esential part of digestion; the opposite of dehydration synthesis (adding water)
enzyme
a protein that serves as a biological catalyst, changing the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the process
alcohols
Organic compound having one or more hydroxyl groups e.g., ethanol
metabolism
All the enzyme-mediated chemical reactions by which cells acquire and use energy as they construct, remodel, and break down organic molecules.
hydroxyl (-OH)
In alcohols (e.g., sugars, amino acids); water soluble
methyl
In fatty acid chains; insoluble in water (carbon and hydrogen)
carboxyl (-COOH)
In sugars, amino acids, nucleotides; water soluble. An aldehyde if at end of a carbon backbone; a ketone if attached to an interior carbon of backbone
carbonyl (-C=O)
In amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates; water soluble. Highly polar; acts as an acid (releases H+)
amino
In amino acids and certain nucleotide bases; water soluble, acts as a weak base (accepts H+, contains nitrogen and hydrogen)
phosphate (PO4)
In nucleotides (e.g., ATP), also in DNA, RNA, many proteins, phospholipids; water soluble, acidic
