Biological Macromolecules Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of carbohydrates in biological systems?

Source of energy and structural compounds (correct)

Catalyzing biochemical reactions

Transporting oxygen in the blood

Storage of genetic information

Which of the following is a characteristic of cellulose?

It can be broken down easily by humans.

It is made from two glucose units.

It serves as a stored energy source in plants.

It is a structural component of plant cell walls. (correct)

Which process involves the removal of water to form a bond between monosaccharides?

Hydrolysis

Fermentation

Dehydration synthesis (correct)

Oxidation

What is the composition of a triglyceride?

Three fatty acids and a glycerol Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about isomers is true?

They share the same chemical formula but differ in structure. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes unsaturated fats from saturated fats?

Unsaturated fats are usually liquid due to the presence of double bonds. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about triglycerides is accurate?

Triglycerides are classified based on the saturation level of the fatty acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of proteins in biological systems?

To serve as structural components and facilitate chemical reactions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the monomers and polymers associated with proteins?

Monomers of proteins are amino acids and the polymers are polypeptides. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fat is generally considered healthier for consumption?

Unsaturated fats found in vegetable oils. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of globular proteins?

Facilitate chemical reactions Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bond is responsible for holding amino acids together in a protein?

Peptide bond Signup and view all the answers

What is the structure of RNA compared to DNA?

Single stranded and contains uracil Signup and view all the answers

How many essential and non-essential amino acids are there in the human body?

9 essential and 11 non-essential Signup and view all the answers

What role does dehydration synthesis play in protein formation?

It removes water to form bonds Signup and view all the answers

What type of genetic material does a nucleotide contain?

Phosphate group and nitrogen base Signup and view all the answers

Which nitrogenous base is exclusive to RNA?

Uracil Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the enzyme-substrate interaction?

The active site is where the substrate binds Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Biological Macromolecules

Large complex molecules: These are polymers, built from smaller monomers.
Polymers (Carbohydrates): Polysaccharides, large molecules built from monosaccharides. Examples include starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin.
- Starch (plant storage): Starch is a polysaccharide composed of numerous glucose units linked together, primarily produced by plants as a means of storing energy for later use. It can be enzymatically broken down into glucose molecules through hydrolysis, making it an essential carbohydrate for energy metabolism in both plants and the organisms that consume them.
- Glycogen (animal storage): Glycogen is a highly branched polysaccharide that serves as the main form of energy storage in animals. It is primarily found in the liver and muscle tissues, where it can be quickly mobilized to meet the body’s energy needs during periods of intense activity or between meals.
- Cellulose (plant cell walls): Cellulose is a structural polysaccharide that forms the cell wall of plants, providing rigidity and strength. Its linear chains of glucose are linked by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds, making it resilient and difficult to digest for most organisms, hence it cannot be broken down by typical enzymatic processes.
- Chitin (insect exoskeleton): Chitin is a long-chain polymer that forms the exoskeleton of arthropods, including insects, crabs, and fungi. This polysaccharide provides a tough protective barrier, contributing to the structural integrity and defense mechanisms of these organisms, serving both as armor and as a means of preventing desiccation.
Monomers (Carbohydrates): Monosaccharides, the building blocks of carbohydrates. Examples include glucose, fructose, and galactose.
Disaccharides: Formed by combining two monosaccharides through dehydration synthesis (removing water). Examples include maltose, sucrose, and lactose.
Dehydration Synthesis: The process of joining monomers by removing water.
Hydrolysis: Breaking bonds between monomers by adding water.

Lipids

Function: Long-term energy storage, insulation, and structural components (e.g., cell membranes).
Insoluble in water (hydrophobic): Non-polar molecules.
Monomers: Glycerol and fatty acids.
Polymers: Triglycerides, phospholipids, and waxes.
- Triglycerides: Formed by combining one glycerol and three fatty acids via dehydration synthesis.
- Fatty Acids: Saturated (no double bonds) or unsaturated (contain double bonds)
  - Saturated: Solid at room temperature, typically animal fats.
  - Unsaturated: Liquid at room temperature, typically plant oils.
- Phospholipids: Modified triglycerides, crucial components of cell membranes, having both hydrophilic (water-loving) and hydrophobic (water-fearing) regions. polar area is hydrophillic, the phosphate group. nonpolar area is hydrophobic, the fatty acid chains.
- Waxes: Structural lipids, not triglycerides.
Steroids: Lipids with a carbon ring structure. Examples include cholesterol and hormones like testosterone.

Proteins

Function: Structural components, enzymes (catalysts for chemical reactions), hormones, and antibodies.
Monomers: Amino acids (20 different kinds). The R group decides what kind it is
Polymers: Polypeptides. Large molecules made up of long chains of amino acids.
Amino Acids: All have an amino group, a carboxyl group, a hydrogen atom, and a variable R-group (side chain) that distinguishes them. Either essential or non essential
Peptide Bonds: Bonds that hold amino acids together in polypeptide chains.
Protein Structure: The specific sequence and folding of amino acids determine a protein's unique shape and function.
- Fibrous Proteins: Long, straight chains, structural roles (e.g., collagen, keratin).
- Globular Proteins: Folded into complex 3D shapes, involved in chemical reactions (e.g., enzymes, antibodies).
Enzyme: A biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions. The enzyme has an active site which binds with a substrate.

Nucleic Acids

Function: Store and transmit genetic information.
Monomers: Nucleotides.
Types: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid).
Nucleotide Structure: Each nucleotide comprises a 5-carbon sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base.
DNA: Double-stranded helix, stores hereditary information, located in the nucleus.
- Nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T).
RNA: Single-stranded, involved in protein synthesis.
- Nitrogenous bases: adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and uracil (U).
- Different types (mRNA, tRNA, rRNA) with specific roles in protein synthesis.

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Description

Explore the fascinating world of biological macromolecules in this quiz. Understand the different types of polymers, such as carbohydrates and lipids, along with their functions and structures. Learn how monomers and dehydration synthesis play crucial roles in forming complex molecules.