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STUDENT NAME:
1. What is a macromolecule? List four major different types of basic macromolecules in cells.
A macromolecule is a molecule containing a very large number of atoms. Four major
different types of basic macromolecules in cells are nucleic acids, carbohydrates,
proteins, and lipids.
2. What are the monomer subunits (building block small molecules) of each of the following
macromolecules (polymers): polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids?
The monomer subunits of polysaccharides are chains of sugar monomers linked
together and they are stored inside the cell for future energy use. The monomer
subunits of proteins are amino acids which contain an amine, a carboxyl acid, and a
side chain. The monomer subunits of nucleic acids are nucleotides which contain a
sugar, a base, and a phosphate group.
3. What is the primary structure of a protein?
The primary structure of a protein refers to the linear sequence of amino acids in the
polypeptide chain. The structure is held together by covalent bonds.
4. What is the secondary structure of a protein?
The secondary structure of a protein are alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets. These
structures are held together by hydrogen bonds.
5. What is the tertiary structure of a protein?
Tertiary structure has a single polypeptide chain with one or more protein secondary
structures.
6. Structurally, how does a monosaccharide differ from a disaccharide? How does a
disaccharide differ from a polysaccharide? Provide ONE specific example of each.
Monosaccharides are only one molecule of sugar while disaccharides are two molecules
of sugar and are joined by either 1-6 glycosidic bonds or beta 1-4 glycosidic bonds.
Disaccharides differ form polysaccharides because polysaccharides are more than
fifteen molecules and they are branched, helical and unbranched.
7. Carbohydrates and lipids are both organic molecules. What is an organic molecule? At the
molecular level how does a carbohydrate differ from a lipid in its structure?
An organic molecule are calculus of life and are built around chains of carbon atoms.
The difference between carbohydrates and lipids are that lipids are made up of
triglyceride molecules,three molecules of one or more different fatty acids are linked to
the alcohol glycerol, while carbohydrates are simple sugars of monosaccharides.
8. List two different reasons why cholesterol is important to the body?
Cholesterol is used to produce the steroid hormones required for normal development
and functioning. These include sex hormones estrogen and progesterone in women and
testosterone in men.
9. What are two different types of nucleic acids? What is a nucleotide? What are the three
basic parts of a nucleotide?
Two different types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid. A
nucleotide is a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group.
Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids. Three basic parts of a
nucleotide are a sugar, a phosphate, and one of the four bases.
10. Most of the varied functions of cells are due to the activity of proteins. List five different
general functions of proteins in cells.
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