Macromolecules
This macromolecule is made of amino acids and includes enzymes.
What are proteins?
Enzymes are biological _____
What are catalysts?
Movement of molecules from high to low concentration.
What is diffusion?
State two major functions of proteins in living organisms.
Proteins function as enzymes (speed up reactions), structural support (muscle, hair), transport (hemoglobin), signaling (hormones), and immune defense (antibodies).
What type of solution represents a state of homeostasis for plant cells?
What is hypotonic
A small building block molecule is called a _____, while many bonded together form a _____.
What is a monomer and a polymer?
This is the minimum energy required to start a chemical reaction.
What is activation energy?
The difference in concentration between two areas is called a _____.
What is a concentration gradient?
Explain how the structure of lipids relates to their function in long-term energy storage and membrane formation.
Lipids have long hydrocarbon chains that store large amounts of energy in carbon-hydrogen bonds.
Identify the basic building blocks of lipids and describe their larger structure.
Monomer: fatty acid/ glycerol
Polymer: Triglyceride
Describe two major biological functions of lipids in living organisms.
Long-term energy storage; insulation; forming cell membranes (phospholipids); hormone production (steroids).
The region where a substrate binds on an enzyme.
What is the active site?
Diffusion continues until this state is reached.
What is equilibrium?
Describe the difference in overall shape between carbohydrates and lipids and explain how that difference affects their function.
Carbohydrates often form ring-shaped structures and can form branched polymers for quick energy use. Lipids have long hydrocarbon chains and are nonpolar, making them better for long-term energy storage and membrane formation.
What is active transport and what does it require?
Active transport is the movement of substances against their concentration gradient (low to high concentration).
It requires energy in the form of ATP and often uses protein pumps in the cell membrane.
Identify the monomer of carbohydrates and name one carbohydrate polymer found in living organisms.
Monomer = monosaccharide (glucose); Polymer = polysaccharide
Name at least three factors that affect enzyme activity
Factors include temperature, pH, substrate concentration, enzyme concentration, and inhibitors.
Why does diffusion not require energy?
It is passive transport and moves down the gradient naturally.
Identify the monomer and polymer of nucleic acids.
Monomer = nucleotide
Polymer = DNA or RNA (polynucleotide chain)
What is an enzyme-substrate complex?
An enzyme-substrate complex is the temporary structure formed when a substrate binds to the active site of an enzyme during a chemical reaction.
List the main elements found in each of the four macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids).
Carbohydrates: CHO
Lipids: mostly CH, less O
Proteins: CHON
Nucleic Acids: CHONP
A scientist places human enzymes in a solution with a pH of 2. Predict what will happen to the enzyme and explain why this affects cellular processes.
The extreme acidic pH will cause denaturation by disrupting the enzyme’s structure and therefore function.
Osmosis is the movement of water along a concentration gradient. In a hypotonic solution water moves ________ the cell, in a hypertonic solution water moves ________ the cell, isotonic water moves ________ the cell.
Out
In
Equally in and out
A long-distance runner begins to feel dizzy, fatigued, and weak during a race. Tests show their blood glucose levels are very low. Which macromolecule is most directly involved in this problem, and explain why?
Carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates provide the body’s primary and quickest source of energy in the form of glucose. Low blood glucose means the body does not have enough readily available energy for cellular respiration, leading to fatigue and weakness.
Explain how the shape of a protein determines its function.
A protein’s shape allows it to fit with specific molecules, like a lock and key. The shape forms special areas called active sites where other molecules bind. If the shape changes, the protein may not work properly because it can no longer fit the molecule it is supposed to interact with.