Introduction to Medical Sciences - I

These flashcards cover the key concepts, definitions, and functions of biomolecules and their role in biophysics and medical sciences.

Biomolecule

Organic substances generally composed of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus.

Metabolic Pathway

A series of reactions where simple compounds undergo biosynthesis or catalysis to complex structures.

Anabolism

The biosynthesis pathway where complex structures are built from simple compounds.

Catabolism

The catalytic pathway where compounds are broken down into their end products.

Covalent bonds

Strong chemical bonds formed between biomolecules, crucial for their structure.

Gibbs Free Energy (∆G)

A measure of the amount of energy available to perform work; positive in anabolic reactions.

Nucleic Acids

Polymers composed of nucleotides, critical for genetic code transmission.

Peptide Bond

A covalent bond formed between amino acids in proteins.

Phosphodiester Bonds

Covalent bonds connecting nucleotide units in nucleic acids.

Chiral Carbon

A carbon atom bonded to four different groups, allowing for optical isomers.

Optical Isomers

Molecules that are mirror images of each other due to chiral carbons.

Primary Structure of DNA

The sequence of nucleotide monomers linked by phosphodiester bonds.

Secondary Structure of DNA

The helical structure formed by hydrogen bonds between base pairs.

Hydrophobic Interactions

Interactions occurring between nonpolar molecules in an aqueous environment.

Disulfide Bonds

Covalent bonds formed between sulfur atoms in cysteine residues, stabilizing protein structure.

Substrate

The substance upon which an enzyme acts.

Active Site

The region of an enzyme where substrate molecules bind and undergo a chemical reaction.

Enzyme Inhibition

A process whereby a molecule decreases or stops the activity of an enzyme.

Monosaccharides

The simplest form of carbohydrates, consisting of single sugar molecules.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates formed by the combination of two monosaccharides.

Polysaccharides

Large carbohydrate molecules composed of long chains of monosaccharide units.

Triglycerides

A type of lipid comprised of glycerol and three fatty acids.

Phospholipids

Lipids containing a phosphate group, forming the structural basis of cell membranes.

Vitamins

Organic compounds that are essential for normal growth and nutrition, classified as water- or fat-soluble.

Minerals

Inorganic substances essential for various bodily functions and enzyme activities.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds formed between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom, important in maintaining structures.

Hydrophilic

Substances that are attracted to water and can dissolve in it.

Hydrophobic

Substances that repel water and do not dissolve in it.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid, a molecule essential for the transmission of genetic information.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid, the molecule that carries genetic instructions used in growth, development, and reproduction.

Amino Acids

Organic compounds that serve as the building blocks of proteins.

Polymerization

The process of combining small units (monomers) to form larger structures (polymers).

Glycosidic Bond

A type of covalent bond that joins carbohydrate molecules together.

Antioxidants

Substances that inhibit oxidation and neutralize free radicals in the body.

Hydrophilic Heads

The part of phospholipids that is attracted to water, making up the outer surface of cell membranes.

Hydrophobic Tails

The part of phospholipids that repels water, facing inward to form a lipid bilayer.

Protein Structure

The specific arrangement of amino acids that determines a protein's function.

Lipid Bilayer

A double layer of phospholipids that makes up the cell membrane.

Codon

A sequence of three nucleotides in mRNA that codes for a specific amino acid.

Wobble Position

The third position in a tRNA anticodon that allows for some flexibility in base pairing.

Peptide Chain

A sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Nonpolar

Molecules that do not have distinct electrical charges and do not mix with water.

Polarity

The distribution of electrical charges over the atoms in a molecule.

Cell Membrane

The semipermeable membrane surrounding the cytoplasm of a cell.

Channel Protein

Proteins that allow specific ions or molecules to enter or exit the cell.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by glands that regulate physiological processes.

Cell Signaling

The process by which cells communicate with each other and respond to their environment.

Vascular System

The system responsible for the circulation of blood and lymph through the body.

Nucleotide

The basic building block of nucleic acids, consisting of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base.

Polynucleotide

A polymer made up of many nucleotides linked together.

Cholesterol

A lipid molecule that is an essential structural component of cell membranes.

Energy Metabolism

The process by which the body converts food into energy.

Genetic Code

The set of rules by which information encoded in the genetic material is translated into proteins.

Selectivity

The ability of substances to preferentially interact with specific target molecules.

Protein Synthesis

The process by which cells generate new proteins.

Bioavailability

The proportion of a nutrient or bioactive compound that is absorbed and utilized by the body.

Stability

The ability of a compound to maintain its structure and function under various conditions.

Solubility

The ability of a substance to dissolve in a solvent.

Toxicity

The degree to which a substance can harm humans or animals.

Hydrogen Bonds

Weak bonds that contribute to the secondary and tertiary structure of proteins.

Bioenergetics

The study of energy flow through living systems.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.

Enzyme Kinetics

The study of the rates of enzyme-catalyzed reactions.

Competitive Inhibition

A type of inhibition where an inhibitor competes with the substrate for binding to the active site.

Non-competitive Inhibition

An inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a location other than the active site, reducing its activity.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The energy currency of the cell, used to drive cellular processes.

Feedback Inhibition

A regulatory mechanism where the end product of a pathway inhibits an earlier step.

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids that cannot be synthesized by the body and must be obtained from the diet.

Environmental Factors

External variables that can affect biological processes and enzyme activity.

Cellular Respiration

The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

Calvin Cycle

The series of reactions in photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Transport Proteins

Proteins that help move substances across a cell membrane.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a cell responds to external signals through a series of molecular events.

Regulatory Enzymes

Enzymes that control the rate of metabolic pathways.

Electron Transport Chain

A series of protein complexes that transfer electrons during cellular respiration.

Hydrophilic Amino Acids

Amino acids that are attracted to water and often found on the exterior surface of proteins.

Disaccharide Examples

Sucrose, lactose, and maltose.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.

Enzymatic Specificity

The ability of an enzyme to choose exact substrate from a group of similar chemical molecules.

Carbohydrate Function

Serve as a primary energy source and structural components.

Lipid Function

Energy storage, signaling, and structural components of cell membranes.

Protein Function

Catalyzing biochemical reactions, providing structural support, and transporting molecules.

RNA Types

Messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).

Vitamins' Role

Essential for various biochemical processes and maintaining health.