Chapter 3 Biochemistry

organic compounds

compounds made primarily of carbon atoms

inorganic compounds

don't generally contain carbon atoms

functional groups

clusters of atoms that influence the characteristics of the molecules they compose and the chemical reactions they undergo

monomers

small, simple molecules

polymers

molecule that consists of repeated, linked units

macromolecules

large polymers

condensatoin reaction

monomers linking to form polymers (a water molecule is released)

hydrolysis

water is used to break down a polymer

adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

a certain compound that stores a large amount of energy in its overall structure

polypeptide

long chain of amino acids

triglycerides

3 fatty acids; 1 glycerol

phospholipids

make up cell membranes-- consist of 2 fatty acids; 1 glycerol

wax

one long fatty acid chain joined to one long alcohol

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

contains all the genetic information

ribonucleic acid (RNA)

building proteins and acting as enzymes

monosaccharide

simple sugar

enzyme

RNA or protein molecules that act as biological catalysts

nucleotide

thousands of linked monomers; phosphate group, five-carbon sugar, + ring-shaped nitrogenous base

carbohydrate

organic compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen & oxygen in a ration of about one carbon atom to two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom

disaccharide

double sugar

polysaccharide

complex molecule composed of three or more monosaccharides

protein

organic compound composed mainly of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen

amino acids

an organic molecule that contains a carboxyl and an amino group and that makes up protein

peptide bond

condensation reaction in which two amino acids from a covalent bond and release a water molecul

substrate

the reactant being catalyzed

active sites

folds in an enzyme with a shape that allows the substrate to fit into it

fatty acids

unbranched carbon chains that make up most lipids

mucleic acid

very large and complex orgainc molecules that store and transfer important information in the cell