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Test 1
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22
Biochemistry
Undergraduate 1
09/09/2013

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Term
Biological consequences of water being a solvent for charged or polar compounds?
Definition
Most chemical reactions take place important for life take place in aqueous solution.
Term
Cause of water being denser as a liquid than a solid?
Definition
As water freezes, each molecule forms a total of four hydrogen bonds, leading to the formation of the low-density crystal structure called ice.
Term
Cause of water having high specific heat?
Definition
Water molecules must absorb lots of heat energy to break hydrogen bonds and experience increased movement (and thus temperature)
Term
Biological consequences of water having high specific heat?
Definition
Oceans absorb and release heat slowly, moderating coastal climates
Term
Biological consequences of water having a high heat of vaporization
Definition
Evaporation of water from an organism cools the body
Term
What two families make up carbonyls?
Definition
Aldehydes and Ketones
Term
Property of aminos?
Definition
Acts as a base- tends to attract a proton to form NH3R
Term
Property of carboxyls?
Definition
Acts as an acid- tends to lose a proton in solution to form RCOO-
Term
Property of aldehydes?
Definition
React with some compounds to form R1OHCR2H
Term
Property of hydroxyls?
Definition
Highly polar, so makes compounds more soluble through hydrogen bonding with water; may also act as a weak acid and drop a proton.
Term
Property of phosphates?
Definition
Molecules with more than one phosphate linked together store large amounts of chemical energy.
Term
Property of thiols?
Definition
When present in proteins, can form disulfide bonds that contribute to protein structure.
Term
What are the four components of an amino acid?
Definition
1. A hydrogen atom
2. An amino functional group
3. a carboxyl functional group
4. a distinctive R-group
Term
What atoms are typically found on nonpolar amino acid sidechains?
Definition
C, H, S, N
Term
What atoms are typically found on polar amino acid sidechains?
Definition
C, H, O, N
Term
How are amino acids linked? What type of reaction permits this to take place?
Definition
Peptide bonds; condensation reactions.
Term
Describe primary structure of proteins? What is their monomer? How are they linked?
Definition
The sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide; amino acids; peptide bonds
Term
Describe secondary structure of proteins. What is it stabilized by?
Definition
Formation of alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets in a polypeptide; Hydrogen bonding between groups along the peptide-bonded backbone, so dependent on primary structure
Term
Describe the tertiary structure of proteins. What is it stabilized by?
Definition
Overall three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide including contribution from secondary structures; Bonds and other interactinos between R-groups, or between R-groups and the peptide-bonded backbone; thus depends on primary structure.
Term
Describe the quaternary structure of proteins. How is it stabilized?
Definition
Shape produced by combinations of polypeptides, thus, combinations of tertiary structures; Bonds and other interactions between R-groups and between peptide backbones of different polypeptides; thus dependant on primary structure.
Term
Which nitrogenous bases of nucleic acids are Purines? Which are pyrimidines?
Definition
Pyrimidines: C, U, T
Purines: A, G
Term
What are the three components of a nucleotide?
Definition
1. Phosphate group
2. 5-carbon sugar
3. Nitrogenous base
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