Biochemistry Flashcards
acid
A substance that increases the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution.
base
A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution.
ADP
(Adenosine Diphosphate) The compound that remains when a phosphate group is removed from ATP, releasing energy
ATP
(adenosine triphosphate) main energy source that cells use for most of their work
adenine (A)
Purine. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with thymine.
amino acid
Monomer of Proteins
buffer
A solution that minimizes changes in pH when extraneous acids or bases are added to the solution.
carbohydrate
Class of nutrients that includes sugars and starches
cellulose
Carbohydrate component of plant cell walls.
covalent bond
A chemical bond that involves sharing a pair of electrons between atoms in a molecule
cytosine (C)
Pyrimidine. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with guanine.
dehydration reaction
A chemical reaction in which two molecules covalently bond to each other with the removal of a water molecule.
denaturation
A process in which a protein unravels, losing its specific structure and hence function; can be caused by changes in pH or salt concentration or by high temperature. Also refers to the separation of the two strands of the DNA double helix, caused by similar factors.
disaccharide
A double sugar molecule made of two monosaccharides bonded together through dehydration synthesis.
DNA
Deoxyribonucleic acid. A double-stranded, helical nucleic acid molecule capable of replicating and determining the inherited structure of a cell's proteins.
double helix
The form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent polynucleotide strands wound into a spiral shape.
emulsification
physical process of breaking up large fat globules into smaller globules, thereby increasing the surface area that enzymes can use to digest the fat
enzyme
A type of protein that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living thing
fat
A large lipid molecule made from an alcohol called glycerol and three fatty acids; a triglyceride. Most function as energy-storage molecules.
fatty acid
Monomer of lipids, along with glycerol
functional group
the portion of a molecule that is active in a chemical reaction and that determines the properties of many organic compounds
glucose
C6H12O6
glycogen
An extensively branched glucose storage polysaccharide found in the liver and muscle of animals; the animal equivalent of starch.
guanine (G)
Purine. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA and DNA. Bonds with cytosine.
hexose
A six carbon sugar molecule
hydrogen bond
A type of weak chemical bond formed when the slightly positive hydrogen atom of a polar covalent bond in one molecule is attracted to the slightly negative atom of a polar covalent bond in another molecule.
hydrolysis reaction
A chemical reaction that breaks apart a larger molecule by adding a molecule of water
hydrophilic
Water loving
hydrophobic
Water fearing
inorganic molecule
Molecules that do not contain the element carbon (in most cases)
ion
A particle that is electrically charged (positive or negative)
atom
Smallest unit of matter that still retains the properties of an element
ionic bond
A chemical bond resulting from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
lipid
Energy-rich organic compounds, such as fats, oils, and waxes, that are made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
molecule
A group of atoms held together by covalent bonds.
monomer
A simple compound whose molecules can join together to form polymers
monosaccharide
A single sugar molecule such as glucose or fructose, the simplest type of sugar.
nucleotide
A building block of DNA, consisting of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.
oil
Triglyceride, usually of plant origin that is liquid form
organic molecule
A molecule containing carbon that is a part of or produced by living systems.
pentose
A five carbon sugar molecule
peptide bond
The chemical bond that forms between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another amino acid
phospholipid
A lipid made up of a glyerol joined to two fatty acids and a phosphate group; has two hydrophobic tails and a polar, hydrophilic head
pH scale
measurement system used to indicate the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in solution; ranges from 0 to 14
polar covalent bond
A covalent bond in which electrons are not shared equally
polymer
A long molecule consisting of many similar or identical monomers linked together.
polypeptide
A polymer (chain) of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.
polysaccharide
Carbohydrates that are made up of more than two monosaccharides
protein
A three dimensional polymer made of monomers of amino acids.
purine
a nitrogenous base that has a double-ring structure; such as adenine or guanine; when joined with sugar or phosphate, a component of nucleotides and nucleic acids
pyrimidine
a nitrogenous base that has a single-ring structure; one of the two general categories of nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA; thymine, cytosine, or uracil
RNA
Ribonucleic acid.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 and as the genome of some viruses.
saturated fatty acid
A fatty acid in which all carbons in the hydrocarbon tail are connected by single bonds, thus maximizing the number of hydrogen atoms that can attach to the carbon skeleton.
solute
A substance that is dissolved in a solution.
solvent
A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances
starch
A storage polysaccharide in plants consisting entirely of glucose.
steroid
A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four rings with various functional groups attached.
thymine (T)
Pyrimidine. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of DNA. Bonds with adenine.
trigyceride
The form of fat storage in adipose cells; consists of a molecule of glycerol joined with three fatty acids.
unsaturated fatty acid
A 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.
uracil (U)
Pyrimidine. One of four nitrogen-containing bases in nucleotides composing the structure of RNA. Bonds with adenine.