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a giant molecule formed by the joining of smaller molecules, usually by a condensation reaction
Polysaccherides, proteins and nucleic acids are these
Macromolecules or polymers
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polymer
a long molecule consisting of many similar or identical building blocks linked by covalent bonds
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monomers
smaller molecules that are the repeating units that serve as the building blocks of a polymer
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how are monomers connected?
by a reaction in which 2 molecules are covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a water molecule
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a reaction in which 2 molecules are covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a water molecule
also called a dehydration reaction
condensation reaction
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when a bond forms between 2 monomers, each monomer contributes part of the water molecule that is lost
one molecule provides a hydroxyl group (-OH)
one provides a hydrogen (-H)
this reaction is repeated as monomers are added one by one to a chain making a .......
polymer
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enzymes
macromolecules serving as a catalyst, a chemical agent that changes the rate of a reaction without being consumed by the reaction (speed up chemical reactions in cells)
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what process is facilitated by enzymes?
Dehydration process (synthesis)
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how are polymers disassembled to monomers?
by hydrolysis
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bonds between the monomers are broken by the addition of water what is this process called ?
hydrolysis
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A process of linking monomers that involves that involves the removal of 2 hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atoms to form water (catalyzed by a polymerase enzyme)
dehydration synthesis
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how does hydrolysis break a bond between 2 monomers?
breaks using water (molecules)hydrogen from the water attaches to 1 monomer and a hydroxyl group attaching to the other monomer
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a sugar (monosaccharide) or disaccharide or polymers (polysaccharide)
carbohydrate
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what is the structure formula for glucose?
C6H12O6
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what is the most common monosaccharide?
glucose C6H12O6
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sugars that have 6 carbons are called
Hexose
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Triose
glucose with 3 carbons
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what are the ways of classifying sugars?
- by units
- by #of carbons in the sugar (carbon skeleton)
- or location of the carbons (aldehyde, keytose)
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disaccharide
2 monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage
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a covalent bond formed between monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction
glycosidic linkage
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a polymer of many monosaccharides, formed by dehydration reactions
polysaccharide
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storage polysaccharides=
plants and animals store sugars for later use in the form of storage polysaccharides.
plants store starch (a polymer of glucose monomers) within cellular structures.
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aldose (aldehyde sugar) and ketose (ketone sugar)
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what is the storage polysaccharide of plants? Animals?
- the storage of energy
- plants = starch
- glycose= animals
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what are the similarities/ differences between plant storage polysaccharides and animal polysaccharides?
- both made up of glucose monomers
- differ in structure= glycogen is highly branced compared to starch
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Can most organisms digest cellulose? Why?
No because we lack the enzyme to break it down. Cellulose is very ridged and aids in the smooth working of the intestinal tract
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alpha and beta bonds
alpha bonds have their 1-4 linkages and the hydroxyl groups all aligned
beta bonds 1-4 linkages and the hydroxyl groups are upside down and opposite
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cellulose:
why does cellulose represent an excellent example of the relationship between form and function at the macromolecular level?
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describe the levels of organization within a plant cell wall
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how do you survive if you cant photosynthesize?
- you eat photosynthesizers
- or something that has eaten a photosynthesizer
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what are 2 forms of starch polysaccharides?
- Amylose
- Amylopectin (branched)
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why dont plants need short term energy stores like animals?
- they are photosynthesizers
- they dont move around enough to use up a lot of energy in a short time
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where do plants store their starch?
the roots and seeds
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what are the plant reserves stored in seeds and roots used for?
- reproduction
- survival (temp change)
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what is the storage polysaccharide for animals?
glycogen
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where are the main glycogen storage regions?
in the liver and muscles
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why are the main glycogen storage regions in the muscles and liver?
- b/c there is a huge amount of energy needed to move muscles
- and also for regulating blood sugar levels
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what suffix do sugar names usually end in ?
OSE
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what are structural polysaccharides?
polysaccharides that form the structure of an organism
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what are 2 structural polysaccharides?
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what is the main biological structural polysaccharide?
Cellulose
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what is cellulose used for?
cell walls for protection
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why are lipids an unusual group of molecules?
- b/c they are all non polar
- dont make polymers
- consist mostly of hydrocarbon regions
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what are the 3 most biologically important types of lipids?
- fats
- phospholipids
- steroids
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why are lipids grouped together
they share an important trait- mix poorly in water
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describe the structure of a fat or (triaglycerol)
- one molecule of glycerol attached to 3 fatty acids by dehydration reaction called an ester linkage
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how are fats classified? 2 groups: describe their difference
- saturated fats: no double bonds= solid form
- unsaturated fats: double bonds= liquid form
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what are hydrogenated fats?
naturally unsaturated fats that are chemically forced to be saturated by hydrogen bonding
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what do fats do in the body? 4 points
- provide insulation
- store energy
- help in lubrication
- protect you/ give shape to your body
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why are fats such excellent energy molecules?
b/c they have twice as much energy storage space than other molecules
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where do plants store fat?
seeds
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describe the structure of phospholipids
- a glycerol molecule w/2 attachment points.
- 2 fatty acid chains
a hydrophilic head and 2 hydrophobic tails one saturated and one unsaturated
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how are diff phospholipids characterized?
type, # and position of functional groups attached to the phosphate head
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what is the basic structure of steroids?
- a carbon skeleton consisting of 4 fused rings
- the diff steroids vary in the chemical groups attached to the ensemble of rings
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what is one of the most important steroids in animals?
what are its functions?
- cholesterol
- maintaining membrane structure in cells
- precursor for all other steroids in the body (sex hormones)
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what are the most common type of macromolecules in cells?
proteins
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our genetic code is a code for protein structure. what is this called? Proteins carry out the instructions for this
DNA
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8 classes of proteins
- structural proteins
- enzymatic proteins
- storage proteins
- transport proteins
- hormonal proteins
- receptor proteins
- muscle proteins
- defense proteins
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what do enzymatic proteins do?
- regulate metabolism by acting as catalysts
- keep cells running by carrying out the process of life
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what are proteins?
polymers constructed from sets of amino acids called polypeptides
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what are polypeptides?
polymers of amino acids
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what are amino acids?
the building blocks of proteins
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what are the individual components of an amino acid?
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what differentiates one amino acid from another?
the R group components
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what is the chemical character of a generic amino acid? 4 categories
- it has a basic side and an acidic side
- non polar and a polar side
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what are the ends of a protein called?
n terminus and c terminus
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what are the 3 structures of proteins?
- primary structure
- secondary structure
- tertiary structure
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what is the bond between amino acid monomers called?
peptide bond
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what is involved in the secondary structure of a protein?
hydrogen bonding between remnants of amino and carboxyl groups
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what are the 3 kinds of structure of secondary structure?
- alpha helix
- beta pleated sheets
- random coil
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what are nucleic acids?
are biological molecules essential for life, and include DNA
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where is DNA found?
in the nucleus
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how is DNA info used?
to make copies
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what are copies of our genes called?
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what is replication?
process of copying DNA into more DNA
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what is transcription?
the process of copying DNA into RNA (not an exact copy)
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what are DNA and RNA made up of?
nucleotides
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what are the 3 components of nucleotides?
- sugar
- phosphate
- nitrogenous bases
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what is the sugar of a nucleotide?
5 carbon ribose sugar (pentose sugar)
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