Topic 2 – Molecular Biology

Define Molecular Biology?

Investigating science at a chemical level

What comprises DNA and RNA?

Nucleic Acids

What is a covalent bond?

A bond where the two adjacent atoms share an electron

Define organic compound?

Compound that contains carbon. Hydrocarbon must be present
E.g. methane, proteins

How many covalent bonds can carbon form?

4

Carbon compounds life is based on?

- Nucleic Acids
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins

What makes up nucleic acids?

Nucleotides
- Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus

What makes up carbohydrates?

- Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen
2 hydrogens to 1 oxygen

Characteristics of lipids?
Insoluble in water

What makes up proteins?

Chains of amino acid (nucleic acids are GATC and amino acids are made by them)

Where do most chemical reactions in a cell happen?

Cytoplasm, but some are extra cellular e.g. digest food

Define metabolism?
Sum of all reactions that occur in an organism

Define anabolism?
Build large from small

Energy and anabolism?

Requires energy. Comes from ATP

4 examples of anabolism?
PPDS
Protein synthesis
DNA synthesis (during replication)
Photosynthesis (making glucose from co2 and water)
Synthesis of complex carbohydrates

Define catabolism?
Breaking large molecules into small

Energy and catabolism?

Releases energy (can be captured as ATP)

3 examples of catabolism?
Digestion of food
Cell respiration glucose/lipidsco2 and water
Digestion of complex carbon by decomposers

Define urea?
Simple structure compound containing nitrogen

Where is urea found in living organisms?

Urine
When excess of amino acids excretes nitrogen

How is urea artificially synthesised?

Ammonia + Carbon Dioxide  ammonium carbonate  urea + water

Draw alpha D glucose?

H is the alpha
With a CH2OH

Draw beta D glucose?

H is on the bottom

Draw ribose?
5 C’s
Attach to OH and H

Draw saturated fatty acid?

A bunch of C’s attached to as many H’s
Attach to O at top and OH at bottom

Draw generalised amino acid?

NCC
R group
2 H’s on N
O then OH

Define polar (why water is)?

One side is positive and one side negative
Oxygen has more protons, so attracts electrons more
Define Cohesion?
Ability of like molecules to stick together

Why is water cohesive?

From polarity of water molecules and hydrogen bonds

Example of water being cohesive?

Surface tension from hydrogen bonding resistance penetration

Define Adhesion?
Ability of dissimilar molecules to stick together

Why is water adhesive?

Hydrogen bonds and polarity

Example of water being adhesive?

Bonds to side of xylem vessel

What are the thermal properties of water?

High
specific heat capacity
heat of vaporisation
heat of fusion

Why are they the thermal properties?

Many hydrogen bonds need to be broken to change

What is it meant by water is a solvent?

Can dissolve organic and inorganic substances

What are the solvent properties of water?

Can dissolve polar/charged molecules
Pos surrounds neg
Neg surrounds pos
These interrupt ionic bonds

What is a hydrophilic substance?

Chemically attracted to water

What is a hydrophobic substance?

No neg or pos charge

Similar thermal properties of water and methane?

Size
Weight
Valence Structure

Differences in water and methane?

Water is polar, methane is non-polar
How and why is sweat a coolant?
Require large input of energy to break bonds

Transport of glucose?
Polar, Soluble
In blood plasma

Transport of amino acids?

Polar
R group non-polar
In blood plasma

Transport of sodium chloride?

Ionic
In blood plasma

Transport of oxygen?
Non-polar
Haemoglobin in red blood cells

Transport of cholesterol?
Hydrophobic
Lipoproteins in plasma

Transport of fats?
Non-polar
Lipoproteins in plasma

Define monomer?
Molecule that bonds to form polymer

What are carbohydrates made from?

Recurring monomers (which make a monosaccharide)

How are disaccharides formed?

Condensation reaction (makes water)
Glycosidic linkage

Monosaccharides examples and use?

Glucose, Galactose, Fructose
(Gives Good Flavour)

Disaccharide examples and use?

Lactose, Sucrose, Maltose
(Length Supports Movement (also energy))

Polysaccharide examples and use?

Cellulose, Glycogen, Starch
(Can Get Stored)

Structure of saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated?

Saturated – No double bond
Monounsaturated – 1 double bond
Polyunsaturated – 2 or more double bonds
*Only if between carbons

Structure of cis and trans (unsaturated) fatty acid?

Cis – SSSSSame side
Trans – Opposite sides
(To carbons with double bond)

How are triglycerides formed?

Condensation of 3 fatty acids and one glycerol

What is triglyceride function?

Long term energy function

Polymers made from glucose monosaccharides?

Cellulose, Starch, Glycogen

What and where is cellulose?

Plants
Structure

What and where is starch?

Plants
Energy Storage (takes up less space)

What and where is glycogen?

Animals
Energy Storage

Molecular configuration of cellulose, starch, glycogen?

B
A
A

Scientific evidence for health risks of trans fats?

Correlation with CHD
Fatty deposits in arteries made of trans fats

Scientific evidence for health risks of saturated fatty acids?

Increase LDL, raise blood cholesterol

Acronym for lipids over carbohydrates as storage?

SODAS
Storage, Osmolarity, Digestion, ATP Yield (more energy per gram), Solubility

Health claims about lipids counters?

- Maasai don’t fit high saturated
- Genetics may play a role
- Increase in carbs may also high CHD
 - Depends more on exercise

How are polypeptides formed (and type of reaction)?

Amino acids link (amine group with carboxyl group form peptide bond)
Condensation reaction

Sequence making up a protein?

Number of polypeptides

Structure of amino acids?

- Central carbon group
- Amine group (NH2)
- Carboxylic group (COOH)
- Hydrogen atom
- Variable side chain (R)

How many types of amino acids are there?

20

What part does DNA play in polypeptides?

Codes polypeptide sequence

What is transcription?
Make mRNA transcript from DNA template

What is translation?
Use instructions of mRNA transcript to link amino acids

Primary Structure?
Order of amino acid sequence

Secondary Structure?
Hydrogen bonds cause alpha helix or beta pleated sheet

Tertiary Structure?
Interactions between side chains determine 3d shape

Quaternary Structure?
More than 1 polypeptide chain linked

What determines shape of protein?

Primary Structure

Fibrous proteins shape, role, solubility, sequence, stability?

- Long, narrow
- Structural
- Insoluble
- Repetitive sequence
- Less sensitive to heat change

Globular proteins shape, role, solubility, sequence, stability?

 - Round
- Functional
- Soluble
- Irregular sequence
- Sensitive to heat change

Functions and examples of proteins?

SHITS ME
Structure – Collagen and Spider Silk
Hormones – Insulin
Immunity – Immunoglobins
Transport – Haemoglobin
Sensation – Rhodopsin
Movement – Actin, Myosin
Enzymes - Rubisco

Define proteome?
Totality of proteins expressed in a cell, tissue or organism at 1 time

Define denaturation?
Structural change results in change of biological properties

Heat change effects?

Disrupts hydrogen bonds  loses shape

pH change effects?
Alters charge  loses shape and change solubility

What type of protein is an enzyme?

Globular

Why do substrates bind to the active site?

They chemically and physically complement each other

What is the process of an enzyme catalysed reaction?

Enzyme and substrate  Enzyme-Substrate Complex  Enzyme-Product Complex  Enzyme and
product (disassociation)

2 ways collision frequency can be increased?

Thermal energy
Concentration

What does temp graph look like?

Up, peak, fast down

What molecular happens when temp increases?

Substrate and enzyme move faster, causing more reactions
Too high and hydrogen bonds dissolve, making loose shape

What does pH graph look like?

Up, peak, even down
What happens when pH is altered?
Changes charge of enzyme

What does concentration graph look like?

Up, peak, even out

What do enzyme shape and chemical properties come from?

Tertiary structure

What happens when temperature or pH changes?

Disrupt chemical bonds, changes tertiary structure

What is immobilised enzyme?

In a fixed position, localises enzyme to one spot

3 advantages of immobilised enzymes?

- Enzyme isn’t dissolved, therefore can reuse
- Separation of product is easier
- More stable (to changes in temperature and pH) as protected by the matrix, so they degrade
more slowly and do not need to be replaced as quickly

2 examples of enzyme use in industry?

Food production – Enzymes are used in the production and refinement of beers and dairy products
Paper – Enzymes assist in the pulping of wood for paper production

What is lactose?
Disaccharide of glucose and galactose

4 Advantages of treating milk with lactase?

- Dairy for lactose intolerant
- Increasing sweetness without artificial
- Reduce crystallisation of ice cream (monosaccharides more soluble)
- Reduce production time for cheese and yoghurt (bacteria ferments monosaccharides faster)