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Anatomy & Physiology: Organic Molecules and Macromolecules

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What is dehydration synthesis?

    Dehydration synthesis is the process of joining monomers by removing a molecule of water (H2O), forming a covalent bond between them.

  • What is hydrolysis in organic molecules?

    Hydrolysis is the breakdown of polymers by adding a water molecule, which breaks the covalent bond between monomers.

  • What are monosaccharides?

    Monosaccharides are the simplest carbohydrates, single sugar molecules like glucose, fructose, galactose, deoxyribose, and ribose.

  • What defines disaccharides?

    Disaccharides consist of two linked monosaccharides, examples include sucrose, maltose, and lactose.

  • What are polysaccharides?

    Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides linked together, such as glycogen, starch, and cellulose.

  • What is the structure of a triglyceride?

    A triglyceride consists of three fatty acids bonded to a glycerol molecule via dehydration synthesis.

  • How do saturated fats differ structurally from unsaturated fats?

    Saturated fats have no double bonds between carbons and are solid at room temperature; unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds causing kinks, making them liquid at room temperature.

  • What is a phospholipid and its key features?

    A phospholipid has a glycerol backbone, two fatty acid tails (nonpolar, hydrophobic), and a phosphate-containing polar head (hydrophilic), important in cell membranes.

  • What are the main functions of proteins?

    Proteins function in mechanical support, catalysis (enzymes), transport, movement, communication, and defense.

  • What is the primary structure of a protein?

    The primary structure is the linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

  • Describe the secondary structure of proteins.

    The secondary structure involves alpha helices and beta pleated sheets formed by hydrogen bonding between amino acids.

  • What is the tertiary structure of a protein?

    The tertiary structure is the 3D folding of secondary structures stabilized by intramolecular bonds.

  • What is the quaternary structure of proteins?

    The quaternary structure is the interaction of two or more polypeptide chains forming a functional protein.

  • What happens during protein denaturation?

    Denaturation is the unfolding of proteins, causing loss of function, often due to heat or pH changes.

  • What are enzymes and their role?

    Enzymes are globular proteins that act as biological catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without being consumed.

  • How do enzymes work?

    Enzymes bind substrates at their active site, form an enzyme-substrate complex, catalyze the reaction, and release the product.

  • What factors affect enzyme activity?

    Enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH, with each enzyme having optimal conditions for maximum activity.

  • What are nucleic acids and their types?

    Nucleic acids include DNA and RNA; DNA stores genetic information, RNA helps synthesize proteins.

  • What is the structure of DNA?

    DNA is a double helix composed of nucleotides with bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine paired A-T and G-C.

  • What is ATP and its function?

    ATP (adenosine triphosphate) stores and provides immediate energy for cellular processes by hydrolyzing high-energy phosphate bonds.