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AP Biology Unit 1: Biochemistry Flashcards

THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF MACROMOLECULES

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7276269354macromoleculeA giant molecule formed by the joining of smaller molecules, usually by a condensation reaction. Polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids are examples of this type of molecule.0
7276269355polymerA long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.1
7276269356monomerThe subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer.2
7276269357condensation reaction (dehydration synthesis)A reaction in which two molecules become covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a small molecule, usually water, in which case it is also called a dehydration reaction.3
7276269358hydrolysisA chemical process that lyses, or splits, molecules by the addition of water, functioning in disassembly of polymers to monomers.4
7276269359carbohydrateA sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimers (disaccharides) or polymers (polysaccharides).5
7276269360monosaccharideThe simplest carbohydrate, active alone or serving as a monomer for disaccharides and polysaccharides. Also known as simple sugars, monosaccharides have molecular formulas that are generally some multiple of CHO.6
7276269361dissacharideA double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage formed during dehydration synthesis.7
7276269362glycosidic linkageA covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction.8
7276269363polysaccharideA polymer of many monosaccharides, formed by dehydration reactions.9
7276269364starchA storage polysaccharide in plants, consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined by glycosidic linkages.10
7276269365glycogenAn extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.11
7276269366celluloseA structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by β glycosidic linkages.12
7276269367chitinA structural polysaccharide, consisting of amino sugar monomers, found in many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of all arthropods.13
7276269368fatA lipid consisting of three fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule; also called a triacylglycerol or triglyceride.14
7276269369triaglycerol (Triglyceride)Three fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule; also called a fat or a triglyceride.15
7276269370unsaturated fatty acidA fatty acid possessing one or more double bonds between the carbons in the hydrocarbon tail. Such bonding reduces the number of hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon skeleton.16
7276269371saturated fatty acidA fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that are attached to the carbon skeleton.17
7276269372trans fatAn unsaturated fat containing one or more trans double bonds.18
7276269373phospholipidA lipid made up of glycerol joined to two fatty acids and a phosphate group. The hydrocarbon chains of the fatty acids act as nonpolar, hydrophobic tails, while the rest of the molecule acts as a polar, hydrophilic head. Phospholipids form bilayers that function as biological membranes.19
7276269374steroidA type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various chemical groups attached.20
7276269375cholesterolA steroid that forms an essential component of animal cell membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids, such as hormones.21
7276269376polypeptideA polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.22
7276269377proteinA functional biological molecule consisting of one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into a specific three-dimensional structure.23
7276269378amino acidAn organic molecule possessing both carboxyl and amino groups. Amino acids serve as the monomers of polypeptides.24
7276269379peptide bondThe covalent bond between the carboxyl group on one amino acid and the amino group on another, formed by a dehydration reaction.25
7276269380X-ray crystallographyA technique that depends on the diffraction of an X-ray beam by the individual atoms of a crystallized molecule to study the three-dimensional structure of the molecule.26
7276269381geneA discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses).27
7276269382nucleic acidA polymer (polynucleotide) consisting of many nucleotide monomers; serves as a blueprint for proteins and, through the actions of proteins, for all cellular activities. The two types are DNA and RNA.28
7276269383deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule consisting of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T); capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins.29
7276269384ribonucleic acid (RNA)A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U); usually single-stranded; functions in protein synthesis, gene regulation, and as the genome of some viruses.30
7276269385polynucleotideA polymer consisting of many nucleotide monomers in a chain; nucleotides can be those of DNA or RNA.31
7276269386nucleotideThe building block of a nucleic acid, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.32
7276269387purineOne of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring.33
7276269388pyrimidineOne of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a six-membered ring.34
7276269389riboseThe sugar component of RNA nucleotides.35
7276269390deoxyriboseThe sugar component of DNA nucleotides, having one fewer hydroxyl group than ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides.36
7276269391double helixThe form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent antiparallel polynucleotide strands wound around an imaginary axis into a spiral shape.37
72762693922 purinesAdenine (A) and guanine (G).38
72762693933 pyrimidinesCytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).39
7276269394endergonic reactionA reaction requiring a net input of free energy40
7276269395exergonic reactionReaction that proceeds with a net release of free energy.41
7276269396alcoholA substituted hydrocarbon that contains one or more hydroxyl groups42
7276269397carbonyl/aldehydecarbon atom with a double bond to an oxygen atom43
7276269398carboxylA functional group present in organic acids and consisting of a single carbon atom double-bonded to an oxygen atom and also bonded to a hydroxyl group.44
7276269399hydroxylA functional group consisting of a hydrogen atom joined to an oxygen atom by a polar covalent bond. Molecules possessing this group are soluble in water and are called alcohols.45
7276269400reductionAny process in which electrons are added to an atom or ion (as by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen)46
7276269401oxidationTo attach oxygen, to remove hydrogen, or to remove electrons from a molecule.47
7276269402phosphate48
7276269403amino groupA functional group that consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms49
7276269404sulfhydryl50
7276269405greenhouse effectNatural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases51
7276269406ozone layerLayer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation52

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