Biochemistry Basics: Enzymes, Substrates, and Hydrocarbons Review

Enzymes are biological molecules (proteins) that act as catalysts and help speed up chemical reactions in the body. They do this by lowering the activation energy needed for a reaction to occur.

Substrates are the specific molecules that enzymes bind to and act upon during a chemical reaction.

Carbon is known for its versatile bonding capabilities due to its 4 valence electrons, allowing it to form up to 4 covalent bonds with other atoms. This characteristic makes carbon the foundation of organic chemistry.

A hydrocarbon chain is specifically composed of carbon atoms linked together through covalent bonds, with hydrogen atoms filling out the remaining bonding possibilities on the carbons. It does not involve hydrogen atoms being connected or linked by ionic bonds or oxygen atoms interspersed among the carbon chain.

Saturated hydrocarbons have the maximum number of hydrogens and no double bonds, while unsaturated hydrocarbons lack the maximum number of hydrogens and have double bonds.

Monomers are the single units that combine to form polymers, which are large molecules made up of repeating monomer units. The correct answer provides a clear definition of both terms, while the incorrect options provide misleading statements about the relationship between monomers and polymers.

A monosaccharide is the simplest form of sugar, consisting of a single molecule. A disaccharide is formed when two monosaccharides join together. And a polysaccharide is a complex carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharide units bonded together.

Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis are fundamental concepts in biochemistry that involve the interaction between molecules and water. Dehydration synthesis involves the bonding of molecules with the removal of water, while hydrolysis breaks down molecules with the addition of water. Understanding these processes is crucial for understanding macromolecule formation and breakdown in living organisms.

Lipids are organic molecules made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen with no fixed ratio. They consist of glycerol with fatty acid chains attached and play roles in energy storage, insulation, and protection. The incorrect answers provided describe other types of compounds such as metallic compounds, inorganic substances, and proteins which do not match the characteristics of lipids.

Proteins are organic molecules that do not have a fixed ratio of elements. They are not inorganic molecules and are not solely composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. Proteins consist of amino acids, not nucleic acids.

Nucleic acids are organic molecules that do not have a fixed ratio of elements and are crucial for storing genetic information within cells. The structure of nucleic acids involves polynucleotide chains comprising phosphate groups, nitrogenous bases, and sugar molecules. Their primary function is to store and transmit genetic information, not provide energy for cellular processes.

Monosaccharides are single sugar molecules, disaccharides are composed of two sugar units, and polysaccharides are complex carbohydrates made up of multiple sugar units linked together.

Glycogen is a form of glucose stored in the liver and muscles to provide a readily available source of energy for the body to use.

Starch is a complex carbohydrate made up of glucose molecules and serves as a primary energy storage form in plants.

Hydrogenation involves the addition of hydrogen atoms to a compound, not the removal of hydrogen atoms. It is used to convert unsaturated fats to saturated fats.

Steroids are organic compounds that have a specific 4-ring structure, distinct from proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins.

Anabolic steroids can have numerous negative physical and emotional effects on individuals, including those listed in the correct answer. The incorrect answers provide misinformation about the potential benefits or lack of harmful side effects from using anabolic steroids.

Amino acids are the individual units that make up proteins, not carbohydrates, fats, or vitamins.

Peptide bonds are specifically covalent bonds that connect amino acids to form peptides and proteins. They are formed through a process called dehydration synthesis, where a water molecule is removed to join the amino acids together.

The correct levels of protein structure are primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary, each building upon the previous level.

The correct answer highlights the essential relationship between protein shape and function, emphasizing that any deviation in shape can lead to functional impairment.

Nucleic acids are made up of repeating units called nucleotides, which consist of a nitrogenous base, a five-carbon sugar, and a phosphate group. This structure allows nucleic acids to store and transmit genetic information.

DNA is known for its double helix structure which consists of two polynucleotide chains formed by sugar, phosphate, and nucleotide base pairs (A=T, C=G). This distinctive structure allows for accurate replication and storage of genetic information.

DNA and RNA are both nucleic acids, but they have several key differences in structure and function. DNA is a double-stranded molecule, while RNA is single-stranded. The base pairing rules in DNA involve adenine (A) pairing with thymine (T) and cytosine (C) pairing with guanine (G). In RNA, uracil (U) replaces thymine (T) in base pairing with adenine (A), while cytosine (C) still pairs with guanine (G). Understanding these distinctions is crucial in the study of molecular biology.

Unicellular organisms are made up of a single cell, while multicellular organisms are made up of multiple cells. This difference in cell number is the key distinction between the two types of organisms.

Prokaryotic cells are simple cells that lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, while eukaryotic cells are more complex and have these structures, allowing for multicellularity in organisms like parameciums and amoebas.

Phospholipids are a type of lipid that play a key role in the structure of cell membranes. They have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails, which help form the lipid bilayer of plasma membranes.

Genes encode instructions that are used to synthesize proteins which are involved in almost every process within our cells. This relationship between genes and proteins is known as the central dogma of molecular biology.

Ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis in cells by translating the genetic information stored in DNA and RNA into functional proteins, making the incorrect answers inaccurate.