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Chapter Three
The Molecules of Cells
38
Biology
Undergraduate 1
06/16/2010

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Term
Organic Compounds
Definition
Carbon Based Molecules
Term
Hydrocarbon
Definition
Any compound that is composed of only carbon and hydrogen. Generally nonpolar due to the C-H bond.
Term
Carbon Skeleton
Definition
Chain of carbon atoms in an organic molecule.
Term
Isomers
Definition
Compounds with the same formula but different structures due to unique properties.
Term
Functional Groups
Definition
A chemical group that affects a molecule's function by participating in chemical reations in charcteristic ways. These are polar, which tends to make the compounds containing these groups hydrophilic (water loving), and therefore soluble in water.
Term
Methyl Group
Definition
A functional group that is nonpolar and not reactive.
Term
The four main classes of large biological molecules
Definition
Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids. These are gigantic, so much so that scientists call them "macromolecules"
Term
Polymers
Definition
Long molecule consisting of many identical or similar building blocks strung together, much as a train consists of many individual cars.
Term
Monomer
Definition
Building blocks of polymers
Term
Dehydration Reaction
Definition
How cells link monomers together to form polymers. Essentially, a reaction occurs that removes a molecule of water. Refer to page 36 for a picture explanation.
Term
Hydrolysis
Definition
Cells carry out this process to break down and digest polymers. This is the reverse of dehydration reacttions, where polymers are broken down by adding water molecules.
Term
Enzymes
Definition
Special macromolecules that speed up chemical reactions in cells (lactose intolerant individuals are lacking the enzyme lactose).
Term
Carbohydrate
Definition
A class of molecules ranging from the small sugar molecules dissolved in soft drinks to large polysaccharies, such as the starch molecules we consume in pasta and potatoes.
Term
Monosaccharides
Definition
Carbohydrate monomers (single unit sugars).  Consists mainly of glucose and fructose. These can be hooked together by dehydration reactions to form more complex sugars and polysaccharides. Most have general formulas that are some form of CH2O
Term
Disaccharide
Definition
Formed by cells from two monosaccharies in a dehydration reaction. Most common one is sucrose, which is made of a glucose monomer and a fructose momomer.
Term
Polysaccharides
Definition
Polymers of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions. Three common types are: starch, glycogen, and cellulose.
Term
Chitin
Definition
A structural polysaccharide, used by insects and crustaceans to build their exoskeleton.
Term
Lipids
Definition
Diverse compounds that are grouped together because they share one trait: they mix poorly with water. Consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by nonpolar covalent bonds. They are hydrophobic (water fearing).
Term
Fat
Definition
A large lipid made from two kinds of smaller molecules: glycerol and fatty acids. Main function is energy storage.
Term
Unsaturated Fats
Definition
These fats have double bonds in the carbon chain, and have less than the maximum number of hydrogens.
Term
Saturated Fats
Definition
Fats with the maximum number of hydrogens. Most animal fats.
Term
Phospholipids
Definition
The major component of cell membranes. Structurally similar to fats but they contain two fatty acids attached to glycerol instead of three. In the place of the third acid is a negatively charged phosphate group.
Term
Steroids
Definition
Lipids whose carbon skeleton contains four fused rings, as shown in the structural diagram of cholesterol.
Term
Cholesterol
Definition
A common component in animal cell membranes, and animal cells also use it as a starting material for making other steroids.
Term
Protein
Definition
A polymer constructed from amino acid monomers. Their most important role is as enzymes, but there are also structural proteins found in hair and fibers that make up tissues, and defensive, signal, transport, storage, and receptor proteins.
Term
Amino Acids
Definition
Made from an amino group, and a carboxyl group. There is a common set of 20, and different arrangements of these 20 make up the divere variety of proteins.
Term
Protein Structure
Definition
Most enzymes and other proteins are globular. Structural proteins, such as those making up hair and tendons, are typically long and thin-fibrous.
Term
Denaturation
Definition
A process in which polypeptide chains unravel, losing their specific shape, and as a result, their function.
Term
Primary Structure
Definition
A proteins unique sequence of amino acids. Determined by genetic information.
Term
Secondary Structure
Definition
The second level of protein structure, in which parts of the polypeptide coild or fold into local patterns. Coiling results in alpha helix, a certain type of folding results in a pleated sheet.
Term
Tertiary Structure
Definition
Refers to the overall three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide. These structures are either globular or fibrous. The globular shape results from compact combination of an alpha helix and pleated sheets.
Term
What causes tertiary structure?
Definition
Interactions among the R groups of the amino acids making up the polypeptide.
Term
Quaternary Structure
Definition
Proteins that consist of two or more polypeptide chains, or subunits. The structure is caused by the association of the subunits.
Term
Gene
Definition
Discrete unit of inheritance
Term
DNA
Definition
Deoxyribonucleic acid. One of the two polymers that make nucleic acid.
Term
RNA
Definition
Ribonucleic Acid. Gene uses this second type of nucleic acid to communicate to polypeptides. Genes give info to DNA, which is translated for RNA, and then into the structure of polypeptides.
Term
Nucleotides
Definition
Monomers that make up nucleic acids.
Term
Differences between DNA and RNA
Definition

RNA has oxygen, DNA does not

RNA has Uracil, DNA has Thymine

RNA has a single, DNA has double helix

 

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