Macromolecules Flashcards Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is a monomer?

A building block of a macromolecule; a small chemical unit that makes up a polymer.

What is a polymer?

A molecule composed of many monomers.

What is a monosaccharide?

The monomer of carbohydrates, a single sugar molecule.

What is a disaccharide?

A carbohydrate made of two linked sugars. Signup and view all the answers

What is a polysaccharide?

A complex carbohydrate made of many sugars joined together. Signup and view all the answers

What is glucose?

A monosaccharide produced by plants during photosynthesis. Signup and view all the answers

What is glycerol?

A component of lipids that has three carbon atoms. Signup and view all the answers

What are fatty acids?

Long chains of carbon atoms, which can be saturated or unsaturated. Signup and view all the answers

What is a triglyceride?

A lipid with one glycerol molecule attached to three fatty acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is a phospholipid?

A lipid with one glycerol molecule, one phosphate group, and two fatty acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is a steroid?

An organic compound containing four rings of carbon atoms. Signup and view all the answers

What is cholesterol?

A type of lipid found in the body tissues of animals. Signup and view all the answers

What are hormones?

A type of protein that acts as a chemical messenger. Signup and view all the answers

What are amino acids?

The monomer of proteins, which are made of amino acids. Signup and view all the answers

What is a nucleotide?

The monomer of nucleic acids, made of a phosphate group, a 5 carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base. Signup and view all the answers

What is a carbohydrate?

Sugars that are macromolecules composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. Signup and view all the answers

What is a lipid?

A macromolecule that contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, generally insoluble in water. Signup and view all the answers

What is a protein?

Macromolecules containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus. Signup and view all the answers

What are nucleic acids?

Macromolecules that include DNA and RNA, made of nucleotides. Signup and view all the answers

What is an enzyme?

Proteins that act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to denature an enzyme?

To alter the structure of an enzyme so it cannot function properly. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Macromolecules Overview

Macromolecules are large, complex molecules essential for biological functions, categorized into carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Monomers and Polymers

Monomer: The basic unit that serves as a building block of a macromolecule.
Polymer: A molecule consisting of many monomers bonded together, forming macromolecules.

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides: The simplest form of carbohydrates, single sugar molecules (e.g., glucose).
Disaccharides: Carbohydrates formed by the linkage of two monosaccharides.
Polysaccharides: Complex carbohydrates made of many linked sugar molecules.
Basic formula: Carbohydrates consist of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio (CH2O).

Lipids

Lipids: Macromolecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, primarily insoluble in water. Types include fats, oils, waxes, and steroids.
Glycerol: A three-carbon molecule forming the backbone of triglycerides and phospholipids.
Fatty Acids: Long carbon chains. Saturated fats contain only single bonds, while unsaturated fats contain at least one double bond.
Triglycerides: Lipids composed of one glycerol and three fatty acids.
Phospholipids: Comprised of one glycerol, one phosphate group, and two fatty acids. Critical for cell membranes.
Steroids: Organic compounds with a structure of four carbon rings, functioning primarily as chemical messengers.
Cholesterol: A lipid present in animal tissues, important for cellular structure and function.

Proteins

Proteins: Made of amino acids, contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur and phosphorus.
Amino Acids: The building blocks of proteins; animal proteins are complete, containing all 20 amino acids, while many plant proteins are incomplete.
Enzymes: A type of protein that catalyzes biochemical reactions, critical for metabolic processes.
Denaturation: A process where enzymes lose structure and function due to extreme temperature or pH changes.

Nucleic Acids

Nucleic Acids: Includes DNA and RNA, composed of nucleotides.
Nucleotide: The monomer of nucleic acids, consisting of a phosphate group, a five-carbon sugar, and a nitrogenous base.
DNA stores genetic information, with sequences of adenine, guanine, cytosine, and thymine determining inherited characteristics.

Hormones

Hormones: Proteins functioning as chemical messengers in the body, regulating various physiological processes.

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Description

Test your knowledge of macromolecules with these flashcards. Each card provides definitions and key terms related to monomers and polymers. Perfect for students studying biochemistry or molecular biology.