UNIT 1: Cell Function and Inheritance
Topics 1-8
UNIT 1: Living cells
TOPIC 1: Structure and variety of proteins
Amino acid
Conjugated protein Fibrous protein
Nitrogen
Globular protein
Hydrogen bond
Polypeptide
Peptide bond
ssssssssssssssssssss Molecule consisting of polypeptide chain folded into a
ball with a non-protein chemical
One of 20 different types of organic compound that
are the basic building blocks of protein
Weak chemical link holding a polypeptide chain into a
coil by linking adjacent amino acids in the helix
Molecule consisting of long, parallel chains arranged
like a rope
Strong chemical link joining adjacent amino acids in a
poly peptide chain
Molecule consisting of polypeptide chains arranged
like a ball of string
Chain-like molecule composed of several amino acids
Chemical element present in protein but absent from
carbohydrates
TOPIC 2: Role of enzymes
Active site
Co-factor
Digestion
Denaturation
End product
Enzyme
Inhibitor
Substrate
Lock-and-key mechanism
Synthesis
ssssssssssssssssssss Substance formed as a result of an enzyme acting on
its substrate
Process by which an enzyme’s structure is changed
and it’s active site is destroyed
Biological catalyst composed of globular protein
Building-up of large, complex molecules from simpler
ones by an enzyme-controlled reaction
Region on an enzyme where the complementary
surface of the substrate becomes attached
Substance upon which an enzyme acts, resulting in the
formation of an end product
Non-protein substance needed by some enzymes to
bring about their catalytic effect
Substance that decreases or halts the rate of an
enzyme-controlled reaction
Breakdown of large, complex molecules to simpler
ones by an enzyme-controlled reaction
Hypothesis which proposes that substrate and
enzyme molecules fit together in a precise and
specific way
TOPIC 3: Nucleic acids and protein synthesis
Adenine
Cytosine
Deoxyribose
DNA
Double helix
Nucleotide
Ribose
Thymine
Uracil Amino acid
Codon
Genetic code
Polypeptide
Ribosome
Guanine
Anticodon
Translation
mRNA
2-stranded molecule of DNA wound up into a spiral
Base present in mRNA that is complementary to adenine
Base present in DNA and RNA that is complementary to thymine
Basic unit of which nucleic acids are composed
Sugar present in DNA
Base present in DNA that is complementary to guanine
Nucleic acid present in chromosomes
Sugar present in RNA
Base present in DNA and RNA that is complementary to cytosine
Sub-cellular structure that is the site of protein synthesis
Process by which a complementary molecule of mRNA is made from
a region of DNA template
Type of nucleic acid that conveys information from DNA to a
ribosome
Long chain of amino acids formed at a ribosome during translation
of RNA
The conversion of the genetic code into a sequence of amino acids
in a polypeptide
Molecular language made up of 64-codewords called codons
Unit of genetic code consisting of 3 mRNA bases
Type of nucleic acid that acts as an amino acid carrier
Triplets of bases on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to an
mRNA codon
One of 20 different types of sub-unit that make up protein
molecules
TOPIC 4: ATP and energy transfer
Acetyl CoA
ATP
Central matrix
Citric acid
Crista
Cytochrome system Cytoplasm
Glycolysis
Krebs cycle
Oxygen
Pyruvic acid
Water
Phosphorylation
Glucose
Mitochondrion
Stage of respiratory pathway common to
both aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Series of hydrogen (electron) carriers
located on cristae of mitochondrion
Folded extension of inner membrane of
mitochondrion
Organelle responsible for aerobic
respiration
The location in a cell where glycolysis
occurs
Part of a mitochondrion containing
enzymes needed for the Krebs cycle
Final hydrogen acceptor in aerobic
respiration
High energy compound formed by
phosphorylation using energy released
during respiration
Stage of respiratory pathway that
occurs in central matrix of
mitochondrion
Process by which high energy ATP is
formed from low energy ADP + Pi
2-carbon compound formed from pyruvic
acid when oxygen is present
3-carbon compound formed from glucose
during glycolysis
Product of aerobic respiration when
oxygen combines with hydrogen
6-carbon compound formed when 4carbon and acetyl coA combine
6-carbon sugar that acts as a common
respiratory substrate in both aerobic
and anaerobic respiration
TOPIC 5: Sources of energy
Disaccharide
Non-reducing sugar
Glucose
Glycogen
Polysaccharide
Maltose
Monosaccharide
Reducing sugar
Starch
Sucrose
General name for insoluble carbohydrate
composed of many monosaccharide
molecules
General name for sugar consisting of 2
monosaccharide molecules joined
together
Soluble carbohydrate whose molecules
can donate electrons to other
substances
Monosaccharide produces following
complete digestion of starch
General name for soluble carbohydrate
unable to donate electrons to other
substances
Polysaccharide stored in human liver
cells
Disaccharide reducing sugar produced by
action of amylase on starch
Non-reducing disaccharide sugar
composed of glucose and fructose
General name for ‘single’ simple sugar
Polysaccharide stored in plant cells
TOPIC 6: Cell membrane and transport of materials
Active transport
Diffusion
Exocytosis
Hydrophilic part
Hydrophobic part
Pinocytosis
Osmosis
Globular protein
Phagocytosis
Phospholipid
Component of cell membrane whose
molecules make up a fluid bilayer
Form of endocytosis by which lipids are
taken into a cell in small vesicles
Water-loving head end of a
phospholipids molecule
Form of endocytosis by which solid
particles are engulfed and taken into a
cell
Net movement of molecules from a
region of high concentration to a region
of lower concentration of that
substance
Component of cell membrane whose
molecules form a patchy mosaic amongst
the phospholipids bilayer
Movement of ions across the plasma
membrane against a concentration
gradient
Net movement of water molecules from
high to lower water concentration
through a selectively permeable
membrane
Water-hating tail end of a phospholipids
molecule
Process by which intracellular vesicles
discharge their contents from the cell
TOPIC 7: Cellular response in defence
Active immunity
Agglutination
Allergy
Antibody
Autoimmunity B cell Vaccination Cell-mediated response
Humoral response
Killer T cell
Memory cells
Antigen
Macrophage
Passive immunity
Clumping together of red blood cells by
becoming bound to antibodies
Failure of immune system to tolerate its
own antigens resulting in it attacking its
own cells
Injection or ingestion of harmless form
of pathogen to produce immunity
Over-reaction by hypersensitive immune
system to harmless substance
Type of phagocytic cell especially
numerous in liver, spleen and lymph
nodes
Protection gained by receiving readymade antibodies from another person or
animal
Mobilisation of cell products (antibodies)
to deal with antigens
Complex molecules (e.g. protein)
recognised by lymphocytes as foreign
B- and T-lymphocytes formed during
first exposure to antigen which produce
secondary response in future
Y-shaped protein made by Blymphocytes in response to antigen
Mobilisation of killer T-cells to deal
directly with foreign antigens
Protection gained by producing
antibodies in response to natural or
artificial exposure to pathogen
Lymphocyte that brings about cellmediated response to alien material
Lymphocyte that produces and releases
antibodies as free molecules
TOPIC 8: Viruses
AIDS
Bacteriophage
Host
Lysis
Capsid
Retrovirus
Helper T cell
HIV
Reverse transcriptase
Virus
General name for a micro-organism that
exhibits living and non-living
characteristics
Bursting of host cell releasing copies of
viruses
Virus that destroys T helper cells
General name for virus containing RNA
and reverse transcriptase
Protective coat surrounding a virus
Enzyme that transcribes viral RNA into
DNA
Type of virus that attacks bacteria
Type pf white blood cell that plays host
to HIV
Organism whose cells are attacked by a
virus
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome