Term | Definition |
Active Site | The site on an enzyme that attaches to a substrate |
Amino Acid | An organic molecule that contains a carboxyl and an amino group and that makes up proteins; a protein monomer |
Carbohydrate | An organic compound that is made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen and that provides nutrients to the cells of living things |
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) | The information that directs the characteristics of an organism and directs its cell activities |
Disaccharide | A sugar formed from two monosaccharides |
Enzyme | A type of protein or RNA molecule that speeds up metabolic reactions in plants and animals without being permanently changed or destroyed |
Fatty Acid | An organic acid that is contained in lipids, such as fats or oils |
Lipid | A large, nonpolar organic molecule, including fats and steroids; lipids store energy and make up cell membranes |
Monosaccharide | A simple sugar that is the basic subunit, or monomer, of a carbohydrate |
Nucleic Acid | An organic compound, either RNA or DNA, whose molecules are made up of one or two chains of nucleotides and carry genetic information |
Nucleotide | In a nucleic-acid chain, a subunit that consists of a sugar, a phosphate, and a nitrogenous base |
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 that contains phosphorous and that is a structural component in cell membranes |
Polypeptide | A long chain of several amino acids |
Polysaccharide | One of the carbohydrates made up of long chains of simple sugars; polysaccharides including starch, cellulose, and glycogen |
Protein | An organic compound that is made of one or more chains of amino acids and that is a principal component of all cells |
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) | A natural polymer that is present in all living cells and that plays a role in protein synthesis |
Steroid | A type of lipid that consists of four carbon rings to which various functional groups are attached and that usually has a physiological action |
Substrate | A part, substance, or element that lies beneath and supports another part, substance, or element; the reactant in reactions catalyzed by enzymes |
Wax | A type of structural lipid consisting of a long fatty-acid chain that is joined to a long alcohol chain |