Biological Macromolecules: Directionality in Macromolecules
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Questions and Answers

What is the ultimate source of energy for all life on earth?

  • Heat from the Earth's core
  • Chemical reactions
  • Radioactive decay
  • Light from the sun (correct)

    • Which type of organisms use light energy to drive the synthesis of carbohydrates?

  • Methanogens
  • Photosynthetic organisms (correct)
  • Extremophiles
  • Non-photosynthetic organisms

    • What happens in a chemical reaction if the free energy change (ΔG) is negative?

  • The reaction is endothermic
  • The reaction requires an external energy source
  • The reaction will not occur unless energy is supplied
  • The reaction is spontaneous and exothermic (correct)

    • Which type of reactions are favored - exergonic or endergonic?

    <p>Exergonic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of proteins and nucleic acids in living cells?

    <p>Structural support and genetic information storage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is considered by many scientists to have been the original coding material?

    <p>Nucleic acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the catalytic activity associated with certain types of RNA called?

    <p>Ribozymes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which two scientists shared the Nobel Prize in chemistry in 1989 for their discovery of the catalytic properties of RNA?

    <p>Chech and Altman</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'Prokaryote' mean?

    <p>Before the nucleus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process does a hairpin ribozyme catalyze?

    <p>Self-cleavage and joining (ligation)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thomas R. Chech and Sidney Altman discover about RNA?

    <p>Its catalytic properties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component is responsible for the catalytic activity normally associated with proteins?

    <p>Amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are certain types of RNA with catalytic activity called?

    <p>Ribozymes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between nucleic acids and amino acid sequences?

    <p>Direct correlation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What were the only elements present in the earliest stages of the universe?

    <p>Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which gases were present in the atmosphere of the early Earth based on experiments?

    <p>Ammonia, Hydrogen Sulfide, and Carbon Monoxide</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which process led to the formation of elements other than Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium in the universe?

    <p>Thermonuclear reactions in stars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of proteins in living cells?

    <p>Provide structure within the cell</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did nucleic acids contribute to early life processes?

    <p>Store and transmit genetic information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    From which source did important biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids arise under abiotic conditions?

    <p>Reactions on clay particles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids have in common in living cells?

    <p>They are derived from monomers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the directionality of a biological macromolecule that has an N-terminus and a C-terminus?

    <p>From N-terminus to C-terminus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the sequence Ser-Val-Tyr-Cys, what does the order of amino acids represent?

    <p>A specific sequence with a defined directionality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of linkages do starch and cellulose have in common?

    <p>C1 to C4 linkages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the linkage between glucose units in starch from that in cellulose?

    <p>Starch has α-C1toC4 linkages while cellulose has β-C1toC4 linkages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where does the 3' hydroxyl group form a bond in nucleic acids?

    <p>To the phosphorus atom of the free nucleotide closest to the 5' oxygen atom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the 3'-OH of one ribose ring forms a bond with the 5'-OH of another ribose ring in nucleic acids?

    <p>A new phosphodiester bond is formed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of enzymes in living cells?

    <p>Display catalytic activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of nucleic acids in living cells?

    <p>Store and transmit genetic information</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the correct order for this sequence: Cys-Tyr-Val-Ser?

    <p>S-V-T-C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of cells contain a well-defined nucleus surrounded by a nuclear membrane?

    <p>Eukaryotic cells</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the ultimate source of energy for all life on earth?

    <p>Light energy from the sun</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In biochemical energetics, if the free energy change (ΔG) is negative, what does this indicate about the reaction?

    <p>It is exergonic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of reactions are favored based on their free energy change (ΔG)?

    <p>Exergonic reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of proteins and nucleic acids in living cells?

    <p>Catalyzing chemical reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe reactions that are favored and release energy in the form of heat?

    <p>Exergonic reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do photosynthetic organisms utilize light energy?

    <p>To drive the synthesis of carbohydrates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for single-celled organisms like bacteria and archae, which include cyanobacteria?

    <p>Prokaryotes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What catalytic properties of RNA led to Thomas R. Chech and Sidney Altman winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989?

    <p>Self-cleavage and joining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of molecules are considered by many scientists to have been the original coding material?

    <p>Nucleic acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main function of ribozymes in living cells?

    <p>Catalyzing reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do proteins play in living cells?

    <p>Catalysts for biochemical reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the source of energy for all life on earth?

    <p>Thermonuclear reactions in stars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the nucleic acid sequence that encodes the amino acid sequence in proteins?

    <p>Coding sequence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are ribozymes capable of catalyzing in living cells?

    <p>Biochemical reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic distinguishes Ser-Val-Tyr-Cys from Cys-Tyr-Val-Ser?

    <p>The chirality of the amino acids</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In nucleic acids, what type of bond forms between the 3'-OH of one ribose ring and the 5'-OH of another ribose ring?

    <p>Phosphodiester bond</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of linkages do starch and cellulose have in common?

    <p>C1 to C4 linkages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes the linkage between glucose units in starch from that in cellulose?

    <p>Glycosidic linkage orientation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens when the 5' group of a nucleotide triphosphate interacts with the 3' hydroxyl group of a nucleotide chain?

    <p>A phosphodiester bond forms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the role of enzymes in living cells primarily related to?

    <p>Catalytic activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which atom forms a bond with the 3' hydroxyl group in nucleic acids?

    <p>Phosphorus atom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In biomolecules, what feature determines the 'sense' or directionality of macromolecules?

    <p>Chirality of building blocks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    'Ser-Val-Tyr-Cys' and 'Cys-Tyr-Val-Ser' are examples highlighting the importance of:

    <p>&quot;Sense&quot; or directionality in macromolecules</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of reactions led to the formation of elements other than Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium in the universe?

    <p>Thermonuclear reactions in stars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which gases were NOT present in the atmosphere of the early Earth based on experiments?

    <p>O2</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the ultimate source of energy for all life on Earth?

    <p>Thermonuclear reactions in stars</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In early Earth's oceans, how did important biomolecules like proteins and nucleic acids arise under abiotic conditions?

    <p>From reactions of simple compounds on clay particles</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main role of proteins and nucleic acids in living cells?

    <p>Life processes regulation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process was responsible for the relative abundance of important elements beyond Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium in the universe?

    <p>The Big Bang theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Living cells include very large molecules derived from smaller units known as:

    <p>Monomers (single parts)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Source of Energy

    • The ultimate source of energy for all life on Earth is the Sun.
    • Photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, algae, and certain bacteria, convert light energy into chemical energy through the synthesis of carbohydrates.

    Chemical Reactions and Energetics

    • A negative free energy change (ΔG) indicates a spontaneous reaction that releases energy.
    • Exergonic reactions are favored over endergonic reactions because they release energy.

    Role of Biomolecules

    • Proteins are essential for various cellular functions, including catalyzing reactions as enzymes and providing structural support.
    • Nucleic acids, primarily DNA and RNA, are critical for genetic information storage, transmission, and protein synthesis.

    Historical Context of Biomolecules

    • RNA is considered by many scientists as the original coding material, possessing the ability to store genetic information and catalyze reactions.
    • The catalytic activity of RNA is referred to as ribozyme activity.

    Nobel Prize in Chemistry

    • Thomas R. Cech and Sidney Altman won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1989 for their discoveries regarding ribozymes and RNA's catalytic properties.

    Prokaryotes and Early Earth

    • "Prokaryote" refers to single-celled organisms without a nucleus, such as bacteria and archaea.
    • In early Earth, the atmosphere consisted of gases like methane, ammonia, hydrogen, and water vapor, with no free oxygen.

    Formation of Elements

    • Nucleosynthesis processes, such as stellar fusion and supernova explosions, led to the formation of elements beyond Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium in the universe.

    Biomolecular Structure and Function

    • Proteins, nucleic acids, polysaccharides, and lipids share the characteristic of being essential macromolecules derived from smaller units.
    • Nucleic acids have an N-terminus and C-terminus directionality crucial for biological function.

    Peptide Sequences and Linkages

    • The sequence Ser-Val-Tyr-Cys represents a specific order of amino acids in a polypeptide chain, impacting protein structure and function.
    • Starch and cellulose both consist of glycosidic linkages between glucose units, though starch has alpha linkages while cellulose has beta linkages, affecting their digestibility.

    Nucleic Acid Bonding

    • In nucleic acids, the 3' hydroxyl group bonds with the 5' hydroxyl group of another nucleotide, forming a phosphodiester bond.
    • The energy of a nucleotide triphosphate is utilized when its 5' group interacts with the 3' hydroxyl group of a nucleotide chain.

    Enzymatic Functions

    • Enzymes catalyze biochemical reactions, primarily lowering the activation energy required for those reactions to occur.
    • Ribozymes are RNA molecules that can catalyze specific biochemical reactions, similar to protein enzymes.

    Elemental Foundations

    • The only elements present during the early universe were Hydrogen, Helium, and Lithium.
    • Major chemical reactions that formed essential biomolecules occurred under abiotic conditions in early Earth’s oceans.

    Molecular Composition and Energy

    • Living cells comprise macromolecules that contain larger structures derived from smaller monomer units, essential for life.
    • Proteins are vital for cellular structure and functions, while nucleic acids play a critical role in genetic information processing and transmission.

    Sensitivity of Macromolecules

    • The arrangement of amino acids in sequences like Ser-Val-Tyr-Cys versus Cys-Tyr-Val-Ser highlights the importance of order in protein function and specificity.
    • Directionality in biological macromolecules is determined by their terminal groups, influencing their behavior and interactions in biological processes.

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    Description

    Explore the concept of directionality in biological macromolecules and their building blocks. Understand the significance of the N-terminus and C-terminus in macromolecular structures. Learn about the distinct features of directional sequences in biopolymers like proteins and polysaccharides.

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