Biochemistry

Organic Compound

Compounds ranging from simple molecules to colossal ones that mostly contain hydrogen atoms and carbon atoms, or hydrocarbons

What makes Carbon unique

This element has the ability to form complex and diverse molecules and combine with other elements because it has 4 valence electrons.

Tetravalence

The ability of an atom able to form 4 covalent bonds with 4 valence electrons

Tetrahedral Shape

A shape formed by molecules with multiple carbons

Flat Shape

A shape formed by molecules that have two carbon atoms joined by a double bond

Hydrocarbon

Organic molecules consisting of only carbon and hydrogen

Functional Group

A group of atoms that are often attached to the skeletons of organic molecules. Gives each molecule its unique properties.

Hydroxyl Group

Found in carbohydrates and alcohol

Carbonyl Group

Found in formaldehyde

Carboxyl Group

Found in amino acids and vinegar

Amino Group

Found in ammonia

Sulfhydryl Group

Found in proteins and rubber

Phosphate Group

Found in phospholipids, nucleic acids, and ATP

Methyl Group

Found in methane gas

Macromolecules

Large molecules composed of thousands of covalently connected atoms. Biomolecules.

Polymer

A long molecule consisting of many monomers.

Monomer

An atom or small molecule that can bond together to form polymers

Carbohydrates, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids

Three of four classes of life’s organic molecules that are polymers

Dehydration Reactions

The formation of a logner polymer by removing a water molecule to link together another piece

Hydrolysis

Reverse of dehydration in which polymers dissassemble by adding water molecule to break off a bond

Carbohydrate Molecule

A polysaccharide that serves as fuel and building material. Polymers of sugar. “Complex carbs”

Simple Carbohydrates

Simple sugars, or monosaccharides

Monosaccharide

Single “simple” sugars that are the structural unit of carbohydrates (polysaccharides) that contain the molecular formula of C₆H₁₂O₆ in a ratio of 1:2:1 and is also used for short term energy storage.

Location of Carbonyl Group and number of carbons

This determines how a monosaccharide is classified. In example, glucose is a tetrose as it has 4 carbons.

Isomer

Molecules with the same molecular formula but arranged differently, such as glucose and fructose. Typically drawn as a linear skeleton, but form rings in Aqueous solutions.

Disaccharide

Two monosaccharides that are joined through dehydration synthesis.

Lactose

Common disaccharide made of glucose and galactose

Maltose

Common disaccharide made of glucose and glucose

Sucrose

Common disaccharide made of glucose and fructose, table sugar.

Polysaccharide

Polymers of monosaccharides, or complex carbohydrates, that have storage and structural roles determined by sugar monomers and position of glycosidic linkages

Starch

A storage polysaccharide of plants consisting entirely of glucose monomers

Glycogen

A storage polysaccharide of animals that humans (and other vertebrates) store in the liver and muscle cells

Cellulose

A structural polysaccharide that is a major component of the wall of plant cells. Enzymes cannot digest the beta links in this, so cellulose in human food are nondigestable, being digested as soluble fiber.

Lipids

Fats, utilized for energy storage, membranes, insulation, and protection. This is the one class of macromolecules that do not form polymers. Hydrophobic due to being made of mostly hydrocarbons.

Fats, phospholipids, and steroids

The most important lipids

Acid

A molecule that donates/gives up a hydrogen ion, or a molecule that will break off in water.

Fatty Acid

A long hydrocarbon chain with a carboxyl group attached to it, which is what makes it an acid. Can be saturated or unsaturated.

Saturated Fat

Fatty acid that comes from animals and has the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible. Does not have any double bonds and is solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fat

Fatty acid that comes from plants that has one or more double bonds (monounsaturated or polyunsaturated). Liquid at room temperature, seen as oils. Has bent shape.

Hydrogenation

The process of adding hydrogen to unsaturated fatty acids. Turns them from a liquid to a solid at room temperature.

Triglyceride/Triacylglycerol

Three fatty acids joined together with glycerol.

Phospholipid

A lipid that has two hydroxyl groups on glycerol joined to fatty acids, and the third one joined to a phosphate group that’s joined to a polar group of atoms.

Polar Head

The hydrophilic phosphate and polar groups at the head of a phospholipid.

Nonpolar Tails

The hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains at the end of a phospholipid

Steroids

Lipids characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings.

Protein

A large macromolecule that have many structures resulting in many functions. Account of 50% of dry mass of most cells.

Protein function in which they act as messengers

for cellular communications through hormones

Protein function in which they transport globins

Through the membrane

Antibody Protein Function

Immunoglobin proteins defend against foreign substances

Structural support, storage, and movement of fiber

Common protein functions

The shape

What determines the function of a protein.

Amino Acid

Monomer of protein or polypeptides that are composed of a carboxyl group, amino group, and an R group. The building blocks of protein. A single peptide.

Peptide Bond

A bond between two amino acids

Primary Structure of Protein

The unique sequence of amino acids including the number of amino acids and the length.

The amount of amino acids in the human body

20 amino acids

Secondary Structure of Protein

Consists of coils and folds in the polypeptide chain. Depicted as a helix shape or a pleated sheet form.

Tertiary Structure of Protein

Structure of protein that creates a 3D arrangement of the polypeptide chain.

Quaternary Structure of Protein

Several protein chains packed together in a 3D shape.

Catalyst function

Increases reaction rates in the body byt reducing the energy needed to reach activation state without being changed.

Enzyme

Proteins that function as catalysts. Lowers the energy of activation. Speeds up one or few select chemical reactions, and can be reused as it is not consumed during reactions

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

Formed by a reactant (substrate) binding to the active site on an enzyme. The thing the enzyme acts on. Such as sucrase, which breaks apart sucrose into glucose and fructose.

Denaturation

The loss of a protein’s native conformation due to changes in external factors, causing the protein to be biologically inactive.

Nucleic Acids

Macromolecule composed of nucleotides. The body contains two types: deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

Known as [ ]NA. Uses Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Thymine.

Ribonucleic Acid

Known as [ ]NA. Uses Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine, and Uracil.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy transferring molecule in the cell. Consists of adenosine attached to a string of three phosphate groups.