Biochemistry
Review Sheet
Biology Class
DISACCHARIDE
MONOSACCHARIDE
AMINO ACID
LIPID
POLYSACCHARIDE
NUCLEOTIDE
GIVE MONOMERS FOR:
• Proteins: amino acids
• Carbohydrates: monosaccharide
• Nucleic Acids: nucleotides
• Lipids: fatty acids
Which elements are found mostly in living
organisms?
C arbon
H ydrogen
N itrogen
O xygen
P hosphorus
S ilicon
pH ranges
• pH range of acids: 1-6.99
• PH range of bases: 7.01-14
• pH for weakest acid: 6.99
• pH for weakest base: 7.01
Name the property of enzymes this
represents.
Specific shape
• What property of enzymes determines function?
Shape
• What particular function is taking place?
Synthesis
• Define the term ”substrate.”
Molecule that has the chemical reaction
Define the following:
•Acids: excess H+ ions
•Bases: excess OH-ions
UNSATURATED
FATTY ACID
SATURATED
FATTY ACID
POLYUNSATURATED
FATTY ACID
What happens at the active site?
CHEMICAL REACTION
Why enzymes are important?
• A fundamental task of proteins is to act as
enzymes—catalysts that increase the rate of
virtually all the chemical reactions within cells.
• Most biological reactions are catalyzed by proteins.
• In the absence of enzymatic catalysis, most
biochemical reactions are so slow that they would
not occur under the mild conditions of temperature
and pressure that are compatible with life.
Why enzymes are important?
• Enzymes accelerate the rates of such reactions by
well over a million-fold, so reactions that would
take years in the absence of catalyst can occur in
fractions of seconds if catalyzed by the
appropriate enzyme.
• Cells contain thousands of different enzymes,
and their activities determine which of the many
possible chemical reactions actually take place
within the cell.
• Enzymes are essential to sustain life. It work together
cooperating with vitamins and minerals and act as a
catalyst to accelerate chemical reaction.
• Because most chemical reactions in biological cells would
occur too slowly. Enzymes don't only act as a catalyst.
• When the body has an abundance of enzymes, it can
protect itself and repair the damage from almost all
degenerative disease disorders!
• Without enzymes, we age more quickly, get disease earlier
in life, and acquire physical impairments and mental
retardation as our bodies degenerate.
• Neither a human being nor an animal can live without
enzymatic function. As it were the leading part of the life
activities and it is the source.
List the properties of carbon that
enables it to form long chains:
• can bond with 4 atoms
• covalent bonding
• forms long chains of carbon
• has 4 valence electrons
What is the main element of most
molecules in living organisms?
Carbon
• What property of water allows it to help
organisms to cool off and maintain body
temperature?
Evaporation of sweat carries excess
heat from body
• What property of water keeps lakes and
ponds from freezing solid?
Less dense ice floating on top of
water as an insulation
Which property of water does this
represent?
POLARITY
What properties of water make it a
universal solvent?
•POLAR
•COVALENT
Enzymes
• What does denature mean?
nonfunctional
• Which kind of molecule may become
denatured?
enzymes
• How does it become denatured?
Changes in temperature and pH
List functions of Proteins
• Structure:
hair, horns, muscles, are some examples
• Function:
hormones, enzymes, and hemoglobin are
some examples
List functions of
carbohydrates
• Provide energy
• Structure in plants (cellulose)
List functions of Lipids
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Long term energy storage
Cell membrane structure
Waxes
Steroids
Cushioning
Protection
Insulation
Name of this reaction is
Dehydration Synthesis
(Removal of water to join
molecules)
Name of this reaction is
Hydrolysis
(Using water to split a
molecule)