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AP Biology Unit 1: Biochemistry Flashcards

THE STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF MACROMOLECULES

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7324685121macromoleculeA 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
7324685122polymerA long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.1
7324685123monomerThe subunit that serves as the building block of a polymer.2
7324685124dehydration synthesisA reaction in which two molecules become covalently bonded to each other through the loss of a small molecule, usually water.3
7324685125hydrolysisA chemical process that lyses, or splits, molecules by the addition of water, functioning in disassembly of polymers to monomers.4
7324685126carbohydrateA sugar (monosaccharide) or one of its dimers (disaccharides) or polymers (polysaccharides).5
7324685127monosaccharideThe simplest carbohydrate, active alone or serving as a monomer for disaccharides and polysaccharides. Also known as simple sugars.6
7324685128dissacharideA double sugar, consisting of two monosaccharides joined by a glycosidic linkage formed during dehydration synthesis.7
7324685129glycosidic linkageA covalent bond formed between two monosaccharides by a dehydration reaction.8
7324685130polysaccharideA polymer of many monosaccharides, formed by dehydration reactions.9
7324685131starchA storage polysaccharide in plants, consisting entirely of glucose monomers joined by glycosidic linkages.10
7324685132glycogenAn extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.11
7324685133celluloseA structural polysaccharide of plant cell walls, consisting of glucose monomers joined by β glycosidic linkages.12
7324685134chitinA structural polysaccharide, consisting of amino sugar monomers, found in many fungal cell walls and in the exoskeletons of all arthropods.13
7324685135fatA lipid consisting of three fatty acids linked to one glycerol molecule; also called a triacylglycerol or triglyceride.14
7324685137unsaturated 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.15
7324685138saturated 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.16
7324685140phospholipidA 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.17
7324685142cholesterolA 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.18
7324685143polypeptideA polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.19
7324685144proteinA functional biological molecule consisting of one or more polypeptides folded and coiled into a specific three-dimensional structure.20
7324685145amino acidAn organic molecule possessing both carboxyl and amino groups. They serve as the monomers of polypeptides.21
7324685146peptide bondThe covalent bond between the carboxyl group on one amino acid and the amino group on another, formed by a dehydration reaction.22
7324685148geneA discrete unit of hereditary information consisting of a specific nucleotide sequence in DNA (or RNA, in some viruses).23
7324685149nucleic 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.24
7324685150deoxyribonucleic 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.25
7324685151ribonucleic 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.26
7324685153nucleotideThe building block of a nucleic acid, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.27
7324685154purineOne of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a six-membered ring fused to a five-membered ring. Adenine (A) and guanine (G).28
7324685155pyrimidineOne of two types of nitrogenous bases found in nucleotides, characterized by a six-membered ring. Cytosine (C), thymine (T), and uracil (U).29
7324685156riboseThe sugar component of RNA nucleotides.30
7324685157deoxyriboseThe sugar component of DNA nucleotides, having one fewer hydroxyl group than ribose, the sugar component of RNA nucleotides.31
7324685158double helixThe form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent antiparallel polynucleotide strands wound around an imaginary axis into a spiral shape.32
7324685164carbonylcarbon atom with a double bond to an oxygen atom33
7324685165carboxylA 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.34
7324685166hydroxylA 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.35
7324685169phosphateFunctional groups containing a phosphorus and oxygen36
7324685170amino groupA functional group that consists of a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms37
7324685171sulfhydrylFunctional group containing sulfur and hydrogen38

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