molecule containing both carbon and hydrogen ex. CH4; C6H12O6 (glucose)
inorganic molecule
molecule not containing both carbon and hydrogen (could have one or the other or neither but NOT both) ex. NaCl, H2O, CO2
4 major organic macromolecules
proteins, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids
proteins: structure
long, complex chains of amino acids (20 kinds) (most abundant organic components of microbes)
basic amino acid structure
amino group, side group, and carboxyl group
dehydration synthesis
how to make a protein from amino acids; process by which macromolecules are put together from their smaller molecules (units)
4 levels of protein structure
1.primary structure-amino acid sequence 2. secondary structure- regional folding of sections of the protein; 2 possible motifs, alpha helix (coils) & beta-pleated sheets ("accordion folds") 3. tertiary structure- overall folding of the protein
4 levels of protein structure (cont'd)
4. quaternary structure- protein is made of 2 or more polypeptide units (chain of amino acids) ex. hemoglobin
the 2 macromolecules, if altered, could seriously harm an organism
proteins and nucleic acids
denaturation
destroying the structure of a molecule by too much heat etc. (structure dictates function, destroy the structure, destroy the function; may result in death of the organism)
DNA: genetic material that makes up the chromosome; RNA: functions in the construction of proteins from the "instructions" present in the code of the DNA
carbohydrates: structure
composed of simple sugars either alone or linked together into complex molecules; monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides
monosaccharides
simplest carbs, the building blocks ex. glucsoe, fructose
complex sugars; long chains of sugars ex. starch, cellulose, chitin
carbohydrates: function
energy for cells; found in several cellular structures such as bacterial capsules and cellulose cell walls
lipids:structure and function
varied group of compounds sharing the characteristic of dissolving in organic (nonpolar) solvents (alcohol, acetone, benzene) but not in water
simple lipids
(fats) serve as an energy storage source; made up of glycerol and up to three long-chain fatty acids
complex lipids
(waxes, phospholipids, steroids) have other elements (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur) as part of the structure or (as in the case of steroids) have a complex carbon ring structure; may comprise components of the cell membrane of most microbes
Biology Lab Midterm
