Flashcards
Biological Molecules Definitions
Cards in this deck (33)
- 1Define optimum pHthe pH value at which the rate of an enzyme controlled reaction is at its maximum. Each enzyme has a different optimum pH
- 2Define DNAstable polynucleotide molecule. Acts as information store because the bases projecting from the backbone act as a coded sequence. Organisms differ in their DNA only because they contain different sequences of bases in the DNA
- 3Define genea length of DNA that codes for one polypeptide. Each gene occupies a specific place on a chromosome.
- 4Define alleledifferent versions of the same gene
- 5Define catalysta molecule that speeds up a chemical reaction but does not get used up. At the end of the reaction the catalyst remains unchanged.
- 6Define extracellularenzymes catalyse reactions outside the cell
- 7Define intracellularenzymes catalyse reactions inside the cell
- 8Define activation energythe amount of energy that must be applied for a reaction to proceed. Different reactions have different activation energies. Enzymes lower the activation energy
- 9Define denaturationchanges to the tertiary structure of an enzyme such that it cannot function and its function cannot be restored. The primary structure is not affected
- 10Define nucleotidesmonomers of nucleic acids. Each nucleotide is formed by bonding toher a phosphate group, a sugar molecule and a nitrogenous base
- 11Define limiting factorif all other conditions are kept constant, increasing concentration of that factor alone will inrease the reaction rate
- 12Define enzyme inhibitorany substance or molecule that slows down the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction by affecting the enzyme molecule in some way
- 13Define cofactorany substance that must be present to ensure enzyme-controlled reactions take place at the appropriate rate. Some cofactors are a part of the enzyme (prosthetic groups), others are temporary (coenzymes and inorganic ion cofactors)
- 14Define biosensoruses enyme-controlled reactions to deect the presence of substances in a highly sensitive and specific way. If the substance is present, the enzyme-controlled reaction takes place. The biosensor has a mechanism for revealing whether a product is made
- 15Define variableany factor that may change and therefore affect the reaction rate
- 16Define anomalousa result that looks out of place compared with other results
- 17Define turnover numberthe number of reactions an enzyme molecule can catalyse in one second. In catalase the turnover number is up to 200 000
- 18Define covalent bondsare formed when electrons are shared between atoms. These bonds are very strong. Covalently bonded atoms form new molecules.
- 19Define assay techniquesare often use to compare measurements with known samples so that quantitative measurements can be made
- 20Define quantitative testa measure of substance in units
- 21Define food testssimple tests that show the presence of various biological molecules in samples or structures. Iodine can stain plant tissue sections to show where starch is
- 22Define hydrogen bonda weak interaction that can occur whenever molecules contain a slightly negative atom bonded to a slightly positive hydrogen.
- 23Define triglycerideone glycerol molecule and three fatty acids
- 24Define lipidsa group of chemicals that dissolve in organic solvents, such as alcohol but NOT water. Include fatty acids, triglycerides and cholesterol
- 25Define collagena fibrous structural protein
- 26Define haemoglobinglobular transport protein
- 27Define tertiary structurethe overall 3D structure of the final polypeptide or protein molecule
- 28Define secondary sequencecoiling and pleating of parts of the polypeptide molecule
- 29Define primary structurethe specific sequence of amino acids that make up a protein
- 30Define amino acidsmonomers of all proteins. All amino acids have the same basic structure. The 20 different amino acids involved in protein synthesis differ only in the R-group bonded to the central carbon
- 31Define cellulosea carbohydrate polymer made by bonding beta-glucose molecules together in a long chain
- 32Define polysaccharidepolymers of monosaccharides. Consist of hundreds of monosaccharide monomers bonded together to form a large molecule
- 33Define carbohydratesmake up a group of molecules containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the ratio Cn(H2O)n
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- Undergraduate Biology (Biological Molecules) Flashcards on Biological Molecules Definitions, created by siobhan.quirk on 11/05/2013.
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