BackGeneral Biology: Molecules of Cells
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Terms in this set (29)
Organic compounds are molecules containing carbon atoms bonded to other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen. Examples include carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
Hydrocarbons are organic molecules made entirely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, forming the backbone of many organic compounds.
Isomers are molecules with the same chemical formula but different structural arrangements, resulting in different properties.
Functional groups are specific groups of atoms within molecules that determine chemical reactivity and properties, such as hydroxyl (-OH), carboxyl (-COOH), amino (-NH2), and phosphate (-PO4).
A polymer is a large molecule made of repeating units called monomers. For example, starch (polymer) is made of glucose (monomer) units.
A dehydration reaction joins monomers by removing a molecule of water to form a polymer.
A hydrolysis reaction breaks polymers into monomers by adding a molecule of water.
Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, often in a 1:2:1 ratio, including sugars and starches.
Monosaccharides are simple sugar monomers, such as glucose and fructose.
A disaccharide consists of two monosaccharides joined together, e.g., sucrose (glucose + fructose).
Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharides. Examples include starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Starch is a storage polysaccharide in plants made of glucose monomers.
Glycogen is a storage polysaccharide in animals made of glucose monomers.
Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide in plant cell walls made of glucose monomers.
Lipids are hydrophobic organic molecules including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, insoluble in water due to nonpolar hydrocarbon chains.
A triglyceride is a lipid made from glycerol and three fatty acids.
Saturated fats have no double bonds and are solid at room temperature; unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds causing kinks and are liquid at room temperature.
Steroids are lipids with four fused carbon rings, such as cholesterol and hormones.
A phospholipid is a lipid with glycerol, two fatty acids, and a phosphate group; it is a major component of cell membranes.
Proteins are polymers of amino acids that perform many cellular functions.
Amino acids are protein monomers containing an amino group, carboxyl group, and a side chain (R group).
Denaturation is the loss of protein structure due to environmental changes, causing loss of function.
Peptide bonds are covalent bonds joining amino acids in proteins.
Protein structure levels: Primary (amino acid sequence), Secondary (alpha helices and beta sheets), Tertiary (3D folding), Quaternary (multiple polypeptide chains).
Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) are polymers of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.
Nucleotides consist of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.
DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar and bases A, T, C, G; RNA is single-stranded with ribose sugar and bases A, U, C, G.
The sugar and phosphate groups of nucleotides form the DNA backbone; nitrogenous bases hydrogen bond with each other.
DNA directs protein synthesis via transcription (making RNA) and translation (assembling proteins).