chapter 7

Understand

• Distinguish between a macronutrient and a micronutrient.

o What are the 4 most abundant elements in living matter?

o Give examples of some common micronutrients.

• What is an organic molecule?

o Would carbon dioxide be considered an organic molecule? Why or why not?

• What is a biomolecule?

o What element is the most abundant in biomolecules?

▪ How many chemical bonds can an atom of this element form?

• What is an isomer?

• What is a functional group?

• What is a macromolecule?

o Distinguish between a monomer and a polymer.

o List the 4 major types of macromolecules.

▪ Describe some basic functions of each type of macromolecule.

• What word ending signifies a sugar molecule?

• How many carbon atoms does a molecule of glucose have?

• What kind of bond joins two monosaccharides to form a disaccharide?

• Name the 3 major types of polysaccharides.

o What is each type of polysaccharide used for?

• What is a lipid?

o What are some common functions of lipids?

• Describe the structure of a fatty acid chain.

o Is a fatty acid hydrophobic or hydrophilic?

o How does an unsaturated fatty acid compare to a saturated fatty acid?

• Describe the structure of a triglyceride.

o What are some major functions of triglycerides?

• Describe the structure of a phospholipid.

o What does it mean to say phospholipids are amphipathic?

▪ How does this contribute to the formation of a phospholipid bilayer?

• Describe the basic structure of a steroid.

o What is a sterol?

o Name one well-known type of sterol.

o What role do sterols play in the membrane of some cells?

• What kind of bond joins two amino acids?

o What two functional groups are involved in making this bond?

o What is a polypeptide?

o What is a protein?

▪ What are some important functions of proteins in the cell?

▪ Distinguish between the following levels of protein structure:

• Primary structure

o What do you think would happen if the sequence of amino acids was changed?

• Secondary structure

• Tertiary structure

o Why is the overall structure of the protein critical?

• Quaternary structure

o Do all proteins have quaternary structure?

▪ What do we mean when we say a protein is in its native state?

• What might cause a protein to denature?

o What effect will denaturation have on the function of the protein?