BIO 307 > Untitled Deck > Flashcards

Untitled Deck Flashcards

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1
Q

What is biochemistry?

A
  • Chemistry of life
  • Disguised as organic chemistry
  • Touches on organic chemistry, physics, and biology
  • Fundamental understanding of how life works
  • Combat disease and create better drugs

Biochemistry provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of life.

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2
Q

Name the three areas of study in biochemistry.

A
  • Structural and functional biochemistry
  • Informational biochemistry
  • Bioenergetics

Each area focuses on different aspects of biochemical processes.

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3
Q

What does informational biochemistry involve?

A

Language for storing biological data and for transmitting data in cells and organisms

It plays a crucial role in genetic information processing.

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4
Q

Define bioenergetics.

A

Flow of energy

It studies how energy is transferred and transformed in biological systems.

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5
Q

List the six elements that make up all living things.

A
  • C
  • H
  • O
  • N
  • P
  • S

All organisms share similar biochemical pathways involving these elements.

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6
Q

What are biomolecules?

A

Lead to larger, more complex biomolecules

They are the building blocks of life.

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7
Q

Name three types of carbohydrates.

A
  • Glucose
  • Fructose
  • Sucrose

Carbohydrates are primarily used for cellular energy.

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8
Q

What are lipids used for?

A
  • Cellular energy
  • Membrane structure

They are not very water-soluble.

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9
Q

How many amino acids are there in total?

A

20

Amino acids are the building blocks for proteins.

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10
Q

Name the five nucleotides.

A
  • G
  • T
  • C
  • A
  • U

These nucleotides are essential for DNA and RNA structure.

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11
Q

What is heme?

A

Organometallic compound that contains iron (O2 transport)

Heme is crucial for oxygen transport in the blood.

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12
Q

What are the two classes of organisms?

A
  • Prokaryotes
  • Eukaryotes

These classifications are based on cellular structure.

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13
Q

Describe an animal cell.

A
  • Large cell
  • Internal membranous compartments

Animal cells have compartmentalized structures for various functions.

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14
Q

What is the cytoplasm?

A

Aqueous environment containing small molecules, nutrients, salts, and soluble proteins

It is the major site of cellular metabolism.

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15
Q

What is the function of the cytoskeleton?

A
  • Gives cells their shape
  • Allows cells to move
  • Guides internal organelle movements

The cytoskeleton is a 3D matrix made of protein fibers.

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16
Q

What is the nucleus responsible for?

A
  • Site of most DNA and RNA synthesis
  • Stores genetic information
  • Largest organelle in the cell

It is bound by a double membrane.

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17
Q

What does the endoplasmic reticulum do?

A
  • Manufacturing
  • Modification
  • Transport of cellular material

It is a network of interconnected, closed membrane-bound vesicles.

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18
Q

What is the difference between smooth ER and rough ER?

A
  • Smooth ER: Lipid synthesis
  • Rough ER: Protein synthesis via ribosomes

They have distinct functions in the cell.

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19
Q

What do lysosomes do?

A
  • Degrade cell components
  • Internal pH is acidic (about 5)

They break down polymers to monomers.

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20
Q

What is the Golgi apparatus involved in?

A
  • Protein processing
  • Fat processing

It is found near the smooth ER.

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21
Q

What is the function of mitochondria?

A

Produces ATP

Known as the powerhouse of the cell.

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22
Q

List the properties of water.

A
  • Great solvent
  • Regulates temperature
  • Absorbs heat
  • Regulates internal pH
  • Transports nutrients and removes wastes

Water is essential for life.

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23
Q

What is the structure of an H2O molecule?

A
  • Polar nature
  • Strong aggregate hydrogen bonds
  • Sp3 hybridized
  • Bent tetrahedral

These properties contribute to its unique characteristics.

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24
Q

Define hydrogen bonds.

A

Dipole-dipole interactions

They are important in the structure of proteins and DNA.

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25
What are **Van der Waals Forces**?
A slight attraction between oppositely charged regions of nearby molecules ## Footnote Includes dispersion forces in nonpolar molecules.
26
What are **ionic interactions**?
Electrostatic attractions ## Footnote They occur between oppositely charged ions.
27
Describe **hydrophobic interactions**.
* Relationship of water with hydrophobic molecules * Induces aggregation of nonpolar molecules in aqueous solution ## Footnote This effect is thermodynamically unfavorable.
28
What is **ionization**?
The process of adding or removing electrons from an atom or molecule ## Footnote It gives the atom or molecule a net charge.
29
What is the formula for **pH**?
pH = -log[H+] ## Footnote It is a measure of hydrogen ion concentration.
30
Define an **acid**.
Donating proton ## Footnote Acids increase the concentration of H+ in a solution.
31
Define a **base**.
Accepting proton ## Footnote Bases decrease the concentration of H+ in a solution.
32
What are **buffers**?
* Resist changes in pH * Important for maintaining blood pH * Maintain physiological pH inside the cell ## Footnote Buffers are crucial for homeostasis.
33
What is the **maximum buffer capacity**?
A buffer is effective at pH +/- 1 of the pKa ## Footnote This defines the range in which a buffer can maintain pH.
34
Name the **physiological buffers**.
* Protein buffer system * Carbonic acid/bicarbonate system * Phosphate buffer system ## Footnote These systems help regulate pH in the body.
35
What happens to blood pH when **CO2** is removed?
Blood pH increases ## Footnote This indicates a decrease in acidity.
36
What happens to blood pH when **HCO3-** is removed?
Blood pH decreases ## Footnote This indicates an increase in acidity.
37
What role do the **kidneys** play in pH regulation?
Long-term adjustment ## Footnote They filter out and remove excess acid/base.
38
What is the normal range for **body pH**?
7.4 ## Footnote Values outside of 6.8-7.4 indicate acidosis or alkalosis.
39
What is **respiratory alkalosis**?
* Caused by drugs or hormone-induced factors * Can be reversed with a paper bag ## Footnote It involves an increase in blood pH due to decreased CO2.
40
What causes **metabolic alkalosis**?
* Addition of bicarbonate * Elevated HCO3- concentrations * Loss of fluids from vomiting or diuretics ## Footnote Compensation includes increasing HCO3- loss at kidneys.
41
What causes **metabolic acidosis**?
* Uncontrolled diabetes (ketoacidosis) * Starvation diets * Over-exercising ## Footnote It results in an increase in lactic acid.
42
What is **respiratory acidosis** caused by?
* Obstructive lung disease * Hypoventilation ## Footnote Treatment may involve insulin or HCO3- IV.
43
What is the **hemoglobin buffering system**?
* Buffers for CO2 and H+ * CO2 binds directly to hemoglobin ## Footnote It plays a key role in gas exchange in the lungs.
44
What are the **buffers in urine**?
* Carbonic acid/bicarbonate system * Phosphate buffer system * Ammonia buffer system ## Footnote These buffers help eliminate excess H+ in urine.
45
What are **purines**?
* Adenine * Guanine ## Footnote They are nitrogenous bases found in DNA and RNA.
46
What base does **adenine** pair with in DNA?
Thymine ## Footnote This pairing is crucial for DNA structure.
47
What base does **guanine** pair with in DNA?
Cytosine ## Footnote This pairing is essential for maintaining the DNA double helix.
48
What are **pyrimidines**?
* Cytosine * Thymine ## Footnote They are another type of nitrogenous base in nucleic acids.
49
What base does **cytosine** pair with in DNA?
Guanine ## Footnote This pairing is important for DNA stability.
50
What base does **thymine** pair with in DNA?
Adenine ## Footnote This is a key aspect of the DNA structure.
51
What is **uracil**?
Nitrogen base that pairs with adenine in RNA ## Footnote Uracil replaces thymine in RNA.
52
What sugar is found in **DNA**?
Ribose ## Footnote It is part of the nucleotide structure.
53
What is **adenosine monophosphate (AMP)**?
Nucleotide that contains one phosphate group ## Footnote It is a building block for ATP.
54
What is the structure of **DNA (Double Helix)**?
* 34 Angstrom between 10 bp * Right-handed twist * Antiparallel strands * Major and minor grooves ## Footnote These features are critical for DNA function.
55
What does **polymerase** do?
Catalyzes polymerization reactions ## Footnote It is essential for DNA and RNA synthesis.
56
What is the function of **endonuclease**?
Cleaves nucleic acid substrate at internal sites ## Footnote It is involved in DNA repair and processing.
57
What does **exonuclease** do?
Removes successive nucleotides from the end of a polynucleotide molecule ## Footnote It plays a role in DNA replication and repair.
58
What is **DNA denaturing**?
* Double strand unwinds to single strands * Happens with increased temperature or pH ## Footnote This process is crucial for PCR and other molecular biology techniques.
59
What are **Chargaff's Rules**?
* Amount of A = T * Amount of C = G ## Footnote These rules are fundamental to understanding DNA base pairing.
60
What is the **Central Dogma** of molecular biology?
DNA (replicates) -> transcription -> RNA -> translation -> Protein ## Footnote It describes the flow of genetic information.
61
What is **mitosis**?
Describes the allocation of eukaryotic chromosomes during division ## Footnote It is essential for cell reproduction.
62
What is **translation**?
DNA -> mRNA -> protein ## Footnote It is the process of synthesizing proteins from mRNA.
63
What amino acid does **GAG** code for?
Leucine ## Footnote It is one of the 20 standard amino acids.
64
What amino acid does **UCA** code for?
Serine ## Footnote It is involved in various biochemical processes.
65
What amino acid does **CGG** code for?
Alanine ## Footnote It is a non-polar amino acid.
66
What are the **20 amino acids**?
Building blocks for proteins ## Footnote They are linked by peptide bonds.
67
What does **chiral** mean?
Bound to 4 different things ## Footnote Chirality is important in biochemistry for enzyme-substrate interactions.
68
What are **enantiomers**?
Non-superimposable mirror images of each other ## Footnote They can have different biological activities.
69
What is **scurvy**?
* Vitamin C deficiency * Affects collagen formation ## Footnote It results from a lack of the enzyme polyhydroxylase.
70
Define **aliphatics**.
Compounds which do not contain a benzene ring ## Footnote They include alkanes, alkenes, and alkynes.
BIO 307
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