organic compounds
compounds that are synthesized by cells and contain carbon
hydrocarbons
things made of hydrogen and carbons
carbon skeleton
the chain of carbon atoms in organic molecules;
can be unbranched (butane) or branched (isobutane)
isomers
compounds with the same molecular formula but different structures
functional groups
the groups in an organic molecule that usually participate in chemical reactions
hydrophilic
water loving; soluble in water
hydroxyl group
a group that consists of a hydrogen atom bonded to an oxygen atom. the O is bonded to the carbon skeleton of a molecule
carbonyl group
a group where a carbon atom is linked by a double bond to an oxygen atom; if the carbon atom in the group is at the end of the carbon skeleton, it is called an aldehyde. If the group within a carbon chain is called ketones
carboxyl group
a group where an oxygen atom double- bonds to a carbon that is also bonded to a hydroxyl group.
carboxylic acids
an acid that contains carboxyl groups
amino group
a group composed a nitrogen atom bonded to 2 hydrogen atoms.
amines
organic compounds with an amino group
macromolecules
a gigantic molecule that makes up life; includes 4 classes
polymers
a large molecule consisting of many identical or similar molecular units strung together.
monomers
units that are the building blocks of polymers
dehydration synthesis
the process where cells link together to form polymers; for each monomer added to chain, a water molecule is removed.
hydrolysis
a process where cell bonds break bonds between monomers by adding water to them.
carbohydrate
a class of macromolecules which include mono- and polysaccharides;
monosaccharide
a monomer for carbohydrates; generally have the molecular formula of CH2O; includes glucose and fructose
disaccharide
a double sugar made from 2 monosaccharides through dehydration synthesis; includes sucrose
polysaccharides
polymers linked together through dehydration synthesis; includes starch and sugar
starch
a storage polysaccharide in plant roots; made up of glucose monomers; the helix can be branched or unbranched
glycogen
a polysaccaride used by animals to store excess sugar
cellulose
a polysaccharide made of glucose monomers and used as walls in plant cells
lipids
a class of macromolecules that consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked by nonpolar covalent bonds
hydrophobic
water fearing; don't mix with water
fat
a large lipid made from glycerol and fatty acids
triglyceride
another name for fat; made of glycerol and 3 fatty acids
unsaturated
fatty acids and fats with double bonds; they have less than the max. number of hydrogen
saturated
fats with the maximum number of hydrogens
phospholipids
a component of cell membranes; are similar to fats, but contain phosphorus
waxes
consist of a fatty acid linked to an alcohol; are hydrophobic, so are used as natural water-proof coating for animals
steroids
A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various functional groups attached.
anabolic steroids
a synthetic variant of the male hormone testosterone that mimics some of its effects
protein
a polymer made from amino acid monomers; there are 7 classes
enzyme
protein that acts as a biological catalyst; can speed up chemical reactions
amino acid
organic compounds containing an amino group and a carboxylic acid group
peptide bond
the bond between 2 amino acids in a polypeptide; made by dehydration synthesis
polypeptide
a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds
denaturation
a process in which a protein unravels and loses its native conformation, thereby becoming biologically inactive. For DNA, the separation of the two strands of the double helix; occurs under extreme conditions of pH, salt concentration, and temperature.
primary structure
The first level of protein structure; the specific sequence of amino acids making up a polypeptide chain.
secondary structure
The second level of protein structure; the regular local patterns of coils or folds of a polypeptide chain.
alpha helix
A spiral shape constituting one form of the secondary structure of proteins, arising from a specific hydrogen-bonding structure.
pleated sheet
One form of the secondary structure of proteins in which the polypeptide chain folds back and forth, or where two regions of the chain lie parallel to each other and are held together by hydrogen bonds.
tertiary structure
The third level of protein structure; the overall, three-dimensional shape of a polypeptide due to interactions of the R groups of the amino acids making up the chain.
quaternary structure
The fourth level of protein structure; the shape resulting from the association of two or more polypeptide subunits.
nucleic acids
polymers that serve as blueprints for proteins
DNA
a type of nucleic acid that holds genetic information
RNA
a type of nucleic acid that translates genetic information given by DNA
genes
chemical factors that determine traits
nucleotides
monomers that make up nucleic acids
phosphate group
a functional group consisting of a phosphorus atom covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms
nitrogenous bases
the nitrogen containing bases of the nucleotide
double helix
two strands of nucleotides wound about each other; structure of DNA