What Kinds of Molecules Characterize Living Things? - Answers Molecules in living organisms:
proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids
Most are polymers formed by covalent bonding of monomers.
Polymers are formed by covalent linkages of smaller units called monomers: - Answers Protein
monomers = amino acids
Carbohydrate monomers = monosaccharides
Nucleic acid monomers = nucleotides
Lipids aren't built of monomers but form large complexes that are considered as macromolecules.
What does the reaction of carbon compounds depend on? - Answers Reactions of Carbon compounds
depend on the presence of functional groups.
Each functional group has a specific chemical property and behavior, which it confers to the larger
molecule.
Six main groups: - Answers -OH = Hydroxyl - alcohols
-C=O = Carbonyl - aldehydes & ketones
-COOH = Carboxyl - acids
-NH2 = amino - bases
-PO4 = Phosphate - energy storage & transfer
-SH = Sulfhydryl - cross links - similar to OH
How are most biological polymers formed? - Answers Most biologic polymers are formed in
condensation dehydration synthesis reactions. A water molecule is removed—dehydration reaction.
Making bonds requires input of energy.
How are polymers broken down? - Answers Polymers are broken down into monomers in hydrolysis
reactions. (hydro, "water"; lysis, "break"). water reacts with the covalent bonds that link the polymer
together.
, Breaking bonds releases energy.
Proteins - Answers Proteins have diverse structures & functions.
Proteins have important roles in:
Enzymes
Defensive molecules
Hormonal/regulatory molecules
Transport molecules
Receptors
Genetic regulatory molecules
Structural units
Proteins part 2 - Answers Proteins are made from 20 different amino acid monomers.
Proteins range in size from a few amino acids to thousands of them.
Some proteins are composed of a single chain of amino acids, called a polypeptide.
Proteins part 3 - Answers Other proteins have more than one polypeptide chain.
Folding is crucial to the function of a protein and is influenced largely by the sequence of amino acids.
Each different type of protein has a characteristic amino acid composition and order.
Define amino acids - Answers Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins
Due to the presence of the amino and carboxyl group, amino acids are simultaneously acids and bases.
The amino group is the basic nitrogen-containing part (H2N). The acid is a carboxyl group (COOH).'
what do differences in amino acids come from? - Answers Differences in amino acids come from the side
chains, or the R groups, found attached to the same carbon as the amino and the carboxyl group.
The α carbon is asymmetrical because it is bound to 4 different atoms or groups of atoms.