Plant vs. Insect Structure & Macromolecules
Lipids
Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
No common monomer, but a triglyceride consists of glycerol and fatty acids.
Fatty Acids
Saturated:
Solid at room temperature (e.g., butter, lard, tallow).
All single bonds between carbon atoms.
Unsaturated:
Liquid at room temperature (e.g., olive oil, corn oil vegetable oils).
Contain double bonds in the carbon chain, preventing tight packing.
Phospholipids: Form the cell membrane.
Steroids:
Chemical messengers (hormones like estrogen and testosterone).
Cholesterol: stabilizes the cell membrane.
Waxes: Another type of lipid.
Functions of Lipids
Long-term energy storage.
Insulation (e.g., in Arctic animals like penguins, walruses, and whales).
Chemical messages (hormones).
Protection: cushioning of organs with a layer of fat.
Proteins
Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
Monomer: amino acids (20 different types).
Peptide bond: Links amino acids together.
Functions of Proteins
Structure:
Examples: hair, muscles, nails.
Cytoskeleton.
Transport:
Moving substances in and out of cells.
Hemoglobin transports oxygen.
Antibodies:
Neutralize pathogens.
Cell Markers:
Identification markers on the cell surface (e.g., A and B proteins on blood cells).
Enzymes:
Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy.
Typically end in -ase (e.g., lipase, lactase, catalase).
Function under specific conditions and can denature if the environment changes.
Denaturation:
Change in shape, leading to loss of function.
Occurs when the tertiary structure of the protein falls apart.
Nucleic Acids
Two types: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
DNA: genetic material.
RNA: used in making proteins.
Macromolecule Formation
Dehydration Synthesis: Joins molecules by removing water.
Hydrolysis: Breaks down molecules by adding water.
Enzymes and Denaturation
Enzymes act as catalysts to speed up reactions by reducing activation energy.
Enzymes are biological catalysts, which means they are crucial for all biological processes.
Enzymes have a very specific shape and function that is dictated by their structure.
Most enzymes have a very specific environmental condition in which they function effectively.
Denaturing an enzyme causes the protein to unfold and lose its specific shape thus rendering it inactive.
When tertiary confirmation is lost, the enzyme will no longer function.
The tertiary structure of proteins refers to the overall three-dimensional arrangement of its polypeptide chain in space.
Equations
Dehydration Synthesis Equation:
Hydrolysis Equation: