DNA
Translation
RNA
Transcription
Polypeptides
(chain of amino acids) which form Proteins
These proteins can then interact with the environment and generally create 4 types of biomolecules
Proteins
Lipid (oils)
When an a poly peptide is made, it then folds into a very particular and precise format. Proteins have 4 ‘levels’ of structure:
Primary structure: Linear sequence (eg amino acid 1-amino acid 2-amino acid 3- etc) like a thread of beads where the beads are the amino acids
Secondary structure: relationship between different amino acids (some repelled some attracted etc) so the thread of beads now becomes bent and shaped (eg into a helix). Different parts of the thread will have different shapes. So many you have one ‘beta sheet’ and one ‘alpha helix’ for example.
Nuelic acid
Tertiary structure: The overall structure of the whole protein with these features. For example a protein with one beta sheet and 3 alpha helices will have a different tertiary structure to a protein with 3 beta sheets and 2 alpha helices. This is also how many proteins get their ‘active sites’, for examples for enzymes and their domains for performing enzymatic reactions.
Saccharides
Monosaccharides
Disacchaarides
Polysaccharides
Simple singular sugar molecule
eg. glucose
easy for organisms to break down
groupings of two sugar molecules
eg. Maltose, lactose, sucrose
groupings of three or more sugar molecules
Glycogen, Starch and Cellulose is a polysaccharide homopolymer that consists of only glucose monosaccharides
Used for energy storage, or structure/protection
Glycogen
Energy storage for animals
alpha bonds between molecules, bonds twists the structure to form a helix.
Every 10 links a branch is formed from the main chain
Starch
Energy storage for plants
similar to glycogen it has alpha bonds between molecules
Amylose starch has no branches
Amylopectin starch branches every 30 or so links
Cellulose
Gives structure and strength to things
beta bonds between the glucose molecules, the bonds orientate the molecules in the same direction. long strong chains
No branches, chains can stack on each other using hydrogen bonds.
If ingested by humans it is called dietary fibre as it cannot be broken down in human stomachs
Hemicellulose
Found alongside cellulose in plant walls etc but is very different to cellulose.
Helps to bulk up and link the cellulose to create a matrix
It is normally hydrophilic so can help to transport and store water
Hemicellulose is removed when extracting cellulose from plants.
Stearic acid
Aromatic compounds
lignin
The quaternary structure: this is when it takes more than one protein to assemble to make the complete and active biomolecule. For example, a ribosome
globular
fibrous
Most common form of protein
spherical or blobby in shape
membrane
Hormones
Antibodies
Proteins attached to cell walls and structure
long strands of protein
eg. Keratin, Collagen, Silk
Enzymes
Enzymes always end with an *ase,
eg-Transglutaminase
Chitin
Similar structure to cellulose but one of the OH molecules is replaced with NHCOCH3, Chitosan can be refined from this by changing the NHCOCH3 bond with NH2
Pectin