organic
compounds that contain carbon
inorganic
compounds that don't contain carbon
monosaccharide
a simple sugar that is the basic subunit, or monomer, of a carbohydrate
disaccharide
A molecule composed of two monosaccharides. Common disaccharides include maltose, sucrose, and lactose.
monomer
a simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
solvent
in a solution, the substance in which the solute dissolves
carbohydrate
organic compound used by cells to store and release energy; composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
lipid
macromolecule made mainly from carbon and hydrogen atoms; includes fats, oils, and waxesgl
protein
contains carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen; makes up cell/body structures and enzymes
hydrocarbon
an organic compound composed only of carbon and hydrogen
dehydration synthesis
A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.
hydrolysis
A chemical process that lyses, or splits, molecules by the addition of water.
starch
polysaccharide made up of a chain of glucose molecules; food storage molecule for plants
glycogen
polysaccharide in animal cells that consists of many glucose monomers
cellulose
polysaccharide consisting of glucose monomers that reinforces plant-cell walls
steroids
A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various functional groups attached.
cholesterol
steroid molecule present in the plasma membranes of animal cells
phospholipids
A molecule that is a constituent of the inner bilayer of biological membranes, having a polar, hydrophilic head and a nonpolar, hydrophobic tail.
nucleic acid
organic molecule made of nucleotides; stores hereditary information for cell function; DNA or RNA
glucose
a monosaccharide found in living cells; it has the chemical formula C6 H12 O6
maltose
a disaccharide composed of two glucose units
polysaccharide
polymers of monosaccharides linked together by dehydration reactions
glycerol
a three -carbon molecule that forms with fatty acids to make lipids
fatty acids
molecules which can combine with glycerol to make fats
saturated fat
a lipid made from fatty acids that have no double bonds between carbon atoms
unsaturated fat
A lipid made from fatty acids that have at least one double bond between carbon atoms
waxes
a type of structural lipid; consist of a long fatty acid chain bonded to a long alcohol chain; hydrophobic
energy storage
can either be done by lipids (more energy per unit of mass than carbs.) or carbohydrates
oil
a lipid obtained from a plant source; usually liquid at room temperature.
keratin
example of a support protein found in hair and nails
enzyme
protein that acts as a biological catalyst
hemoglobin
iron-containing protein in red blood cells that transports oxygen to cells
hormones
can be made of specialized proteins that carry messages through the body in blood
amino acid
compound with an amino group (?NH2) on one end and a carboxyl group (?COOH) on the other end; building blocks of proteins
peptide
the kind of bond formed when two amino acid units are joined end to end
polypeptide
A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.
primary structure
The level of protein structure referring to the specific sequence of amino acids.
secondary structure
regular repeated folding of amino acid chain; 2 types , Alpha helix or beta pleated sheets. Stabilized by Hydrogen bonds.
tertiary structure
globular proteins with irregular conformations; stabilized by Hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bridges.
quarternary structure
several polypeptides linked together
denaturation
process in which a protein unravels and loses it conformation and function. Caused by high temperature, change in pH, addition of solvents.
fibrous protein
strand-like, insoluble in water, structural. Ex. collagen.
globular protein
tightly folded, soluble in water, functional. Ex. hemoglobin
actin
a contractile protein found in muscle
immunoglobulins
proteins that function as antibodies in the immune response (defense)
nucleotide
building block of nucleic acid composed of a 5 carbon sugar, a nitrogenous base, and a phosphate group
RNA
ribonucleic acid; involved in protein synthesis
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid; contains the genetic code of a living organism