Biomolecules Overview
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Questions and Answers

What are the four main types of biomolecules?

The four main types of biomolecules are carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids.

What is the role of carbohydrates in living organisms?

Carbohydrates serve as a primary source of energy, provide structural support, and play a role in cell recognition.

What are the building blocks of proteins?

Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.

What is the function of enzymes in biological processes?

<p>Enzymes act as biological catalysts, speeding up the rate of metabolic reactions without being consumed in the process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of nucleic acids?

<p>The two types of nucleic acids are DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lipids are soluble in water.

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

Which of the following is NOT a function of proteins?

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

What two models are used to describe enzyme action?

<p>The Lock-and-Key Model and the Induced Fit Model are used to describe enzyme action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the sugar found in DNA?

<p>The sugar found in DNA is deoxyribose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name the four nitrogenous bases found in DNA.

<p>The four nitrogenous bases found in DNA are adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C).</p> Signup and view all the answers

RNA is a double-stranded molecule.

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

What is the function of RNA polymerase?

<p>RNA polymerase is an enzyme that unzips the DNA double helix and creates a complementary RNA strand during the process of transcription.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three main types of RNA?

<p>The three main types of RNA are messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of tRNA?

<p>Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acids to the ribosomes during protein synthesis.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do cofactors play in enzyme function?

<p>Cofactors are non-protein substances that assist enzymes in carrying out chemical reactions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a coenzyme from a cofactor?

<p>A coenzyme is an organic molecule that acts as a cofactor, while a cofactor can be either organic or inorganic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following processes breaks down large molecules into smaller ones, releasing energy?

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

What are the four basic components of a nucleotide?

<p>A nucleotide consists of a pentose sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine, or uracil).</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which biomolecule is primarily responsible for cell membrane structure?

<p>Phospholipids are primarily responsible for cell membrane structure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Steroids are a type of lipid, but they do not contain fatty acids.

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

What is the name of the core structure found in all steroids?

<p>The core structure found in all steroids is called the gonane, or cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene structure.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of cholesterol in the body?

<p>Cholesterol serves as a precursor for various hormones, including testosterone, estrogen, and cortisol, and plays a crucial role in maintaining cell membrane fluidity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

DNA is located primarily in the cytoplasm of a cell.

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

What is the main function of DNA?

<p>DNA contains the genetic instructions for an organism, determining its traits and characteristics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of RNA?

<p>It contains the sugar deoxyribose.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between competitive and non-competitive inhibition of enzymes.

<p>Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor molecule binds to the active site of an enzyme, preventing the substrate from binding. Non-competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor molecule binds to a different site on the enzyme, causing a conformational change that reduces the enzyme's activity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ model of enzyme action suggests that the active site of an enzyme is specifically shaped to fit the substrate.

<p>Lock-and-Key</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ______ model of enzyme action states that the active site of an enzyme changes shape slightly upon binding with the substrate, resulting in a better fit.

<p>Induced Fit</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of the 'active site' of an enzyme?

<p>The active site of an enzyme is the specific region that interacts with the substrate, facilitating the chemical reaction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the suffix -ase in the naming of enzymes?

<p>The suffix -ase often indicates that a molecule is an enzyme, indicating its catalytic function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

A single enzyme can catalyze thousands of reactions per second.

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

What is a metabolic pathway?

<p>A metabolic pathway is a series of connected chemical reactions within a cell that work together to accomplish a specific biological function.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main types of metabolic pathways?

<p>The two main types of metabolic pathways are catabolic pathways and anabolic pathways.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of a metabolic pathway?

<p>Metabolic pathways are essential for life, allowing cells to efficiently carry out essential functions such as energy production, biosynthesis, and waste removal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Enzymes are necessary for all metabolic reactions.

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

Anabolism is an energy-releasing process.

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

What is the specific function of 'DNA polymerase' in DNA replication?

<p>DNA polymerase is the primary enzyme responsible for building new DNA strands during DNA replication.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ribosomes are organelles found in the nucleus of a cell.

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

What is the role of ribosomes in protein synthesis?

<p>Ribosomes serve as the site for protein synthesis, where they assemble amino acids into polypeptide chains based on the genetic code carried by mRNA.</p> Signup and view all the answers

The sugar found in RNA is deoxyribose.

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

The sequence of bases in a DNA molecule determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein.

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

The process of translation takes place in the nucleus of a cell.

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

The genetic code is universal, meaning that the same codons specify for the same amino acid in all living organisms.

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

The chemical structure of a protein is determined by the sequence of amino acids in the polypeptide chain.

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

Lipids are involved in the transmission of nerve impulses.

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

Hormones can be proteins, lipids, or other types of molecules.

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

Enzymes can be denatured by high temperatures or changes in pH.

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

Study Notes

Biomolecules

  • Biomolecules are biological molecules produced by the living organism's cells
  • They are crucial for life as they help organisms carry out basic biological processes like reproduction, growth, and sustenance
  • Molecular Biology is the study of the structure and function of biological molecules
  • Macromolecule is a "giant molecule"

Types of Biomolecules

  • Carbohydrates
  • Proteins
  • Amino Acids
  • Lipids
  • Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates

  • Most abundant molecules of life
  • Energy source
  • Plants produce carbohydrates in abundance through photosynthesis
  • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen (CHO)
  • Roles:
    • Energy source (e.g., glucose)
    • Energy storage (e.g., starch in plants, glycogen in animals)
    • Structural unit (e.g., cellulose in plant fiber, chitin in exoskeletons)
  • Types:
    • Simple (monosaccharides and disaccharides)
    • Complex (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides)
      • Monosaccharides: building blocks of more complex carbohydrates (e.g., glucose, fructose, galactose)
      • Disaccharides: two monosaccharides combined (e.g., sucrose, lactose, maltose)
      • Oligosaccharides: complex carbohydrates consisting of three to ten monosaccharides combined (e.g., raffinose)
      • Polysaccharides: complex carbohydrates rich in vitamins, minerals, and fiber. (e.g., starch, glycogen, cellulose, chitin)

Proteins

  • Building blocks of life
  • Composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and some sulfur and phosphorus (CHONPS)
  • Functions:
    • Antibodies: bind to specific foreign particles (e.g., viruses, bacteria) to protect the body
    • Messengers: transmit signals to coordinate biological processes between different cells, tissues, and organs
    • Transport/Storage: bind and carry atoms and small molecules within cells and throughout the body
    • Structural: necessary components of the body; provide support

Amino Acids

  • Building blocks of protein
  • Connected by peptide bonds to form long chains of protein
  • 20 standard amino acids, 11 non-essential, and 9 essential

Enzymes

  • Comprise most of the proteins in living cells
  • Biological catalysts that increase the rate of metabolic reactions
  • Enzyme functions are greatly influenced by the chain structure of the protein molecule
  • Denaturation: change in chain structure (proteins) caused by heat, pressure, and acidity
  • Factors affecting enzyme activity: temperature, pH concentration of enzyme and substrate, collision/contact between enzyme and substrate molecules
  • Catalyst: speeds up the rate of a reaction without being changed or used up during it (they are reusable)
    • Different enzyme needed for almost every chemical reaction in the body
    • A single enzyme catalyzes thousands or more reactions per second
    • Enzyme names usually end in "-ase"
    • Each enzyme is a specific helper to a specific reaction
  • The enzyme-substrate complex is formed when the substrate interacts with the active site
  • The active site is specific to its substrate; it is typically a pocket or groove on the surface of the protein molecule
  • Models of Enzyme Action:
  • Lock and Key Model: Proposed by Emil Fischer in 1899, the active site of an enzyme bears a specific conformation that precisely complements the substrate, allowing the substrate to fit into the active site like a lock and key
  • Induced Fit Model: Proposed by Daniel Koshland in 1958, the active site of an enzyme is not a precise fit for the substrate. Instead, when exposed to a substrate, the active site undergoes a structural change to improve binding.

Inhibitors

  • Enzyme inhibitors are molecules that interact with an enzyme to prevent it from working normally (e.g., poisons, drugs)
  • Types:
    • Competitive inhibitors: bind to the active site, preventing the substrate from binding
    • Non-competitive inhibitors: bind to a different site on the enzyme, causing changes that prevent the enzyme from catalyzing the reaction.

Lipids

  • Largely hydrocarbons dissolving in nonpolar substances and having partial or complete insolubility in water
  • Types:
    • Triglycerides: Body’s main energy reservoir, stores unused calories, composed of glycerol backbone and three fatty acids (Fats and Oils)
  • Fats: saturated fatty acid molecules, solid at room temperature, obtained from animal sources
  • Oils: unsaturated fatty acid molecules, liquid at room temperature, obtained from plant sources
    • Sphingolipids: complex lipids made of sphingosine linked to a complex polar head and a long fatty acid chain
    • Phospholipids: have a phosphate group replacing one of the fatty acids in a triglyceride, the basis of the phospholipid bilayer of all biological membranes, act as a barrier within the cell
    • Steroids: have similar solubility properties as lipids but are not fatty acids or esters, common basic structure is the steroid nucleus (e.g., gonane. cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene)
      • Steroids reduce redness and swelling (inflammation) and help with inflammatory conditions (e.g., asthma, eczema)
      • They also reduce the activity of the immune system, which is the body's defense against illness and infection
      • Examples of steroid hormones: testosterone (primary androgen), estrogen (promotes the development and maintenance of female characteristics), and cortisone (released in response to stress, decreases the body’s natural defensive response and reduces symptoms such as swelling and allergic-type reactions; acts as a precursor to cortisol and has anti-inflammatory properties)

Nucleic Acids

  • Informational molecules that carry the code of life (blueprints for proteins), thus controlling the life of a cell
  • Types:
    • DNA (deoxyribose nucleic acid): double helix shape, composed of deoxyribose, and nitrogenous bases
    • RNA (ribonucleic acid): single-stranded shape, composed of ribose and nitrogenous bases
  • Nucleotides: building blocks of nucleic acids. Consists of pentose sugar (deoxyribose or ribose), phosphate, and nitrogen bases (adenine-thymine, guanine-cytosine)

Metabolic Pathways

  • Sequence of chemical reactions occurring in a cell
  • Enzymes work together
  • Catabolic pathways (catabolism): breakdown or digestion of large molecules; release energy
  • Anabolic pathways (anabolism): synthesis of larger molecules by combining smaller molecules; require energy
  • Cofactors: chemical substances assisting many enzymes for chemical reaction (e.g. iron, manganese, zinc)
  • Coenzymes: organic molecules acting as cofactors (e.g. NAD, FAD)

Enzyme Substrate Complex

  • Combination when the active site interacts with the substrate
  • Each enzyme has an active site
  • Substrate is a reactant that binds to the active site of an enzyme

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Biomolecule - General Biology 1 PDF

Description

Explore the fascinating world of biomolecules, essential for life. This quiz covers various types, including carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, along with their roles and significance in biological processes. Test your knowledge of molecular biology and the structure of these vital molecules.

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