Chemistry of Biologists

• polymer


  A large molecule composed of repeating structural units or monomers.

  
• monomer


  A molecule of any compound that can react with other molecules of the same or different compound to form a polymer. Each biological macromolecule has characteristic monomers.

  
• carbohydrates


  A polymer made of monomers called sugars or monossacharides.

  Contains carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in the approximate ratio of C:2H:O

  ex. sugars, starches, and cellulose, glycogen

  
• protein


  Macromolecules made by linking together monomers called amino acids joined by peptide bonds

  
• peptide bonds


  bond amino acids to form proteins

  
• functions of proteins


  build body structures (hair, nails, cartilage)

  transport gasses (hemoglobin)

  movement (muscle fibers)

  defense (antibodies)

  regulation of cell functions (hormones and enzymes)

  
• lipid (job)


  *Organic molecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and store food energy until needed (Fats)

  
• Lipid (structure)


  *composed of 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol molecule

  *can be solids (lard, wax) or liquid (oils)

  
• nucleic acid (function)


  A biological macromolecule (DNA or RNA) that controls cell activities by directing the synthesis (making) or proteins

  Chromosomes are made of DNA which forms the genetic code-genes

  
• nucleic acid (structure)


  phosphate group + 5 carbon sugar + nitrogen base

  
• amino acid


  Building blocks of protein

  
• monosaccharide


  A simple sugar that is the basic subunit of a carbohydrate

  
• fatty acid


  Building Blocks of Lipids

  
• polysaccharide


  a carbohydrate that is composed of many monosaccharide units joined together

  
• glucose


  A simple sugar that is an important source of energy.

  
• -ase


  Used in naming enzymes

  
• -ose


  What is the common ending of the name of most simple sugars?

  
• Active site


  Region of an enzyme into which a particular substrate fits.

  
• Substrate


  A substance on which an enzyme acts during a chemical reaction.

  
• Product


  A substance produced in a chemical reaction

  
• Carbon


  non-metal that can from 4 bonds with other elements

  
• Hydrocarbon


  an organic compound composed only of carbon and hydrogen

  
• Triglyceride


  Circulate in the blood and are made up of three fatty acids attached to a glycerol.

  
• Glycerol


  A three-carbon alcohol to which fatty acids are covalently bonded to make fats and oils.

  
• Catalyst


  A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

  
• macromolecule


  A very large organic molecule composed of many smaller molecules

  
• organic compound


  a covalently bonded compound that contains carbon

  ex. carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids

  
• polypeptide


  A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

  
• denature


  A change in the shape of a protein (such as an enzyme) that can be caused by changes in temperature or pH (among other things).

  Changing the shape means the enzyme no longer functions

  denature = damage

  
• fatty acid


  Building Blocks of Lipids

  
• Biochemical reaction


  Chemical reactions that take place inside the cells of living things.
• enzyme


  A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing

  each has a specific 3 dimensional shape

  can be reused over and over

  
• active site


  the place on the enzyme where the substrate attaches-- docking station

  
• substrate


  the substance the enzyme is working on

  
• enzymes = substrate specificity


  enzymes have a specific shape that allows it to recognize and bond with correct substrates; like puzzle peices

  
• product


  A substance produced in a chemical reaction

  
• catalyst


  A substance that speeds up the rate of a chemical reaction.

  
• digestive enzymes


  break down polymers we eat into monomers that can be absorbed and used by the body
• pH scale


  0-14

  7= neutral

  below 7 = acidic

  above 7 = basic

  
• pH & living things


  living things have a specific pH range at which they can live

  large changes in pH can cause proteins to denature