Biological Molecules Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What are the four types of biological molecules?

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids

What is the main function of carbohydrates?

Stores chemical energy and durable building materials for biological construction

What is the structure of a simple sugar?

Chain of carbon atoms, each having a hydroxyl (-OH) group. Carbonyl group determines if ketose (ketone) or aldose (aldehyde)

What happens to sugars with 5 or more carbons?

Undergo a self-reaction that converts them into a closed, or ring containing molecule Signup and view all the answers

How do sugars join one another?

Covalent glycosidic bonds are formed by the reaction of a carbon atom of one sugar with the hydroxyl group of another sugar Signup and view all the answers

What is a polysaccharide?

A polymer of sugar units joined by glycosidic bonds Signup and view all the answers

What is glycogen?

Highly branched glucose polymer that serves as readily available chemical energy in most animal cells Signup and view all the answers

What are oligosaccharides?

Small chains composed of sugars covalently attached to lipids and proteins; they distinguish one type of cell from another and help mediate interactions of a cell with its surroundings Signup and view all the answers

What are three polysaccharides with identical sugar monomers but dramatically different properties?

Glycogen (branched), Starch (helical), and Cellulose (unbranched) Signup and view all the answers

What is starch?

Mixture of two glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin, that serves as readily available chemical energy in most plant cells Signup and view all the answers

What is cellulose?

Unbranched glucose polymer with Beta(1-->4) linkages that assembles into cables and serves as a principal structural element of plant cell walls Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of lipids?

Fats, Steroids, and Phospholipids Signup and view all the answers

What are fats?

Molecules consisting of a glycerol backbone linked by ester bonds to three fatty acids, also termed triacylglycerols Signup and view all the answers

What are triacylglycerols?

Polymers consisting of a glycerol backbone linked by ester bonds to three fatty acids, commonly called fats Signup and view all the answers

What is a fatty acid?

Long, unbranched hydrocarbon chain with a single carboxylic acid group at one end Signup and view all the answers

What is amphipathic?

The biologically important property of a molecule having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions Signup and view all the answers

What are saturated fatty acids?

Those lacking double bonds between carbons Signup and view all the answers

What are unsaturated fatty acids?

Those having one or more double bonds between carbon atoms Signup and view all the answers

What are oils?

Fats that are liquid at room temperature Signup and view all the answers

What is specificity?

The property of selective interaction between components of a cell that is basic to life Signup and view all the answers

What is a polypeptide chain?

A long, continuous unbranched polymer formed by amino acids joined to one another by covalent peptide bonds Signup and view all the answers

What are peptide bonds?

The chemical bond linking amino acids in a protein, which forms when the carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of a second amino acid Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Four Types of Biological Molecules

Biological molecules include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Carbohydrates

Main functions: Store chemical energy and act as durable building materials.
Simple sugar structure: Composed of a chain of carbon atoms with hydroxyl (-OH) groups; carbonyl group indicates if ketose (ketone) or aldose (aldehyde).
Sugars with 5 or more carbons form closed ring structures through self-reaction.
Sugars join by covalent glycosidic bonds between a carbon atom of one sugar and a hydroxyl group of another.
Polysaccharide: Polymer of sugar units linked by glycosidic bonds.
Glycogen: A highly branched glucose polymer, used as readily available energy in animal cells.
Oligosaccharides: Short chains of sugars attached to lipids or proteins; crucial for cell differentiation and interactions.
Three distinct polysaccharides with the same monomers:
- Glycogen (branched)
- Starch (helical)
- Cellulose (unbranched)
Starch consists of two glucose polymers, amylose and amylopectin, used for energy storage in plants.
Cellulose is an unbranched polymer with Beta(1→4) linkages, forming structural cables in plant cell walls.

Lipids

Types of lipids include fats, steroids, and phospholipids.
Fats are molecules with a glycerol backbone linked to three fatty acids, known as triacylglycerols.
Triacylglycerols are essentially the same as fats, consisting of glycerol and three fatty acids.
Fatty acids are long, unbranched chains with a single carboxylic acid group at one end.
Amphipathic molecules have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, crucial for biological functions.
Saturated fatty acids lack double bonds between carbons, while unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds.
Oils are classified as fats that remain liquid at room temperature.

Proteins

Specificity refers to selective interactions among cell components, vital for life.
Polypeptide chains are long, continuous polymers formed from amino acids linked by covalent peptide bonds.
Peptide bonds connect amino acids in a protein, forming when a carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of another.

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Test your knowledge on the four types of biological molecules through these flashcards. The quiz covers key concepts such as the functions of carbohydrates, the structure of simple sugars, and more. Ideal for biology students looking to reinforce their understanding.