Biomolecules: Lipids and Nucleic Acids Quiz

Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are organic molecules that consist of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
• They are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and sometimes nitrogen and phosphorus.

Lipids

• Lipids have a central core of glycerol that binds up to 3 fatty acid chains.
• They exhibit a high number of C-H bonds, making them non-polar and high in energy.
• Lipids spontaneously gather in water due to their non-polar nature.
• Types of lipids include triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.
• Fatty acids vary in length and number and location of double bonds.
• Saturated fatty acids have the maximum number of hydrogen atoms, no double bonds, and are considered unhealthy.
• Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds and are considered healthy.

Nucleic Acids

• Nucleic acids include DNA and RNA.
• DNA is a double polymer (chain) made up of nucleotides.
• Each chain bonds together to form a helix.

Biomolecules to Remember

• Elements of each biomolecule: CHO, CHON, CHONP.
• Carbohydrates and lipids: CHO.
• Proteins: CHON.
• Nucleic acids: CHONP.

Carbohydrates

• Carbohydrates have a glycosidic linkage between sugar monomers.
• Polysaccharides consist of multiple sugars.
• Structure and function are determined by sugar monomers and glycosidic linkages.
• Examples of polysaccharides include starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin.

Enzymes

• Enzymes are insoluble fibers that digest specific linkages of cellulose.

Proteins

• Proteins account for more than 50% of the dry mass of most cells.
• Functions of proteins include enzymes, defense, transport, support, motion, regulation, and storage.
• Proteins are polymers built from 20 amino acids.
• Amino acids differ in their properties due to differing side chains (R groups).
• Linked by peptide bonds.
• Four levels of protein structure: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
• Chaperonins are protein molecules that assist the proper folding of other proteins.

Introduction to Biomolecules

• Biomolecules are organic molecules that consist of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.
• Metabolism is the process of food turning into energy for growth and maintenance.
• Catabolism is the breaking down of complex molecules into their basic parts.
• Compounds can be classified into organic (contain carbon) and inorganic (do not contain carbon).
• Monomers are made into polymers by dehydration reactions, and broken down into monomers by hydrolysis reactions.