AP Biology- Biochemistry (Chapter 3-8)

Polysaccharides

A carbohydrate (e.g., starch, cellulose, or glycogen) whose molecules consist of a number of sugar molecules bonded together.

Storage Polysaccharides

A group of Polysaccharides that store sugars in plants and animals which is later use as energy.

Functional Group

A group of atoms responsible for the characteristic reactions of a particular compound.

Co-factors (Enzymes)

A substance (other than the substrate) whose presence is essential for the activity of an enzyme.

Enzyme

A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. (H2O2)

Inhibitors (Enzymes)

A substance that slows down or prevents a particular chemical reaction or other process, or that reduces the activity of a particular reactant, catalyst, or enzyme. (Sulfuric Acid)

Transport Proteins

A transport protein (variously referred to as a transmembrane pump, transporter protein, escort protein, acid transport protein, cation transport protein, or anion transport protein) is a protein that serves the function of moving other materials within an organism.

Receptor Proteins

An intracellular protein (or protein fraction) that has a high specific affinity for binding a known stimulus to cellular activity, such as a steroid hormone or adenosine

Protiens

Any of a class of nitrogenous organic compounds that consist of large molecules composed of one or more long chains of amino acids and are an essential part of all living organisms, especially as structural components of body tissues such as muscle, hair, collagen, etc., and as enzymes and antibodies.

Disaccharides

Any of a class of sugars whose molecules contain two monosaccharide residues.

Enzymatic Proteins

Any of numerous compounds that are produced by living organisms and function as biochemical catalysts. Some enzymes are simple proteins, and others consist of a protein linked to one or more non-protein groups.

Monosaccharides

Any of the class of sugars (e.g., glucose) that cannot be hydrolyzed to give a simpler sugar.

Substrate Concentration

By increasing the enzyme concentration, the maximum reaction rate greatly increases. Conclusions: The rate of a chemical reaction increases as the substrate concentration increases. Enzymes can greatly speed up the rate of a reaction. However, enzymes become saturated when the substrate concentration is high.

Structural Polysaccharides

Cellulose and chitin are examples of structural polysaccharides. Cellulose is used in the cell walls of plants and other organisms, and is said to be the most abundant organic molecule on Earth.

Defensive Proteins

Defensive proteins are better known as antibodies. These are a key part of the immune system. Antibodies are formed in the white blood cells and fight off infections and viruses.

Regulation (Enzymes)

Enzyme in a biochemical pathway which, through its responses to the presence of certain other biomolecules, regulates the pathway activity. This is usually done for pathways whose products may be needed in different amounts at different times, such as hormone production.

Enzyme pH

Enzymes are affected by changes in pH. The most favorable pH value - the point where the enzyme is most active - is known as the optimum pH.

Surface Tension

Force exerted upon the surface of molecules

Enzyme Concentration

Increasing Enzyme Concentration will increase the rate of reaction, as more enzymes will be colliding with substrate molecules. However, this too will only have an effect up to a certain concentration, where the Enzyme Concentration is no longer the limiting factor.

Universal Solvent

Like dissolves like (polarity)

Enzyme Temperature

Like most chemical reactions, the rate of an enzyme-catalyzed reaction increases as the temperature is raised.

Lipids/Fats

Lipids comprise a group of naturally occurring molecules that include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E, and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, triglycerides, phospholipids, and others.

Adhesion

One substance sticking to a different substance

Cohesion

One substance sticking to the same substance.

Hormonal Proteins

Peptide hormones and protein hormones are hormones whose molecules are peptides or proteins, respectively. The latter have longer amino acid chain lengths than the former. These hormones have an effect on the endocrine system of animals, including humans.

Density of Solid (Water)

Solid form is less dense than liquid

Storage Proteins

Storage proteins serve as biological reserves of metal ions and amino acids, used by organisms. They are found in plant seeds, egg whites, and milk. Ferritin is an example of a storage protein that stores iron. Iron is a component of heme, which is contained in the transport protein hemoglobin and in cytochromes.

Structural Proteins

Structural proteins are fibrous proteins. The most familiar of the fibrous proteins are probably the keratins, which form the protective covering of all land vertebrates: skin, fur, hair, wool, claws, nails, hooves, horns, scales, beaks and feathers

Base

Substances that, in aqueous solution, are slippery to the touch, taste astringent, change the color of indicators (e.g., turn red litmus paper blue), react with acids to form salts, promote certain chemical reactions (base catalysis), accept protons from any proton donor, and/or contain completely or partially displaceable OH− ions. Examples of bases are the hydroxides of the alkali metals and alkaline earth metals (NaOH, Ca(OH)2, etc.).

Hydrolysis

The chemical breakdown of a compound due to reaction with water.

Specificity (Enzymes)

The condition of participating in or catalyzing only one or a few chemical reactions

Activation Energy (Enzymes)

The minimum quantity of energy that the reacting species must possess in order to undergo a specified reaction

Heat Capacity (Definition & Water)

The number of heat units needed to raise the temperature of a body by one degree. (Water: Insulates, slow to heat, slow to cool)

Condensation Reaction/ Dehydration Synthesis

The process of joining two molecules, or compounds, together following the removal of water. When you see the word dehydration, the first thing that may come to mind is 'losing water' or 'lacking water.' This is a perfect way to remember what occurs during a dehydration reaction.

Variation of Carbon Skeletons

The skeletal structure of an organic compound is the series of atoms bonded together that form the essential structure of the compound. The skeleton can consist of chains, branches and/or rings of bonded atoms. Skeletal atoms other than carbon or hydrogen are called heteroatoms.

Contractile & Motor Proteins

proteins that mediate sliding of contractile fibres (contraction) of a cell's cytoskeleton, and of cardiac and skeletal muscle. (Motor-They convert chemical energy into mechanical work by the hydrolysis of ATP.)