Concept 1-Biochemistry

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Active Site

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a region on an enzyme that binds to a protein or other substance during a reaction

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Allosteric Site

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The place on an enzyme where a molecule that is not a substrate may bind, thus changing the shape of the enzyme and influencing its ability to be active.

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Amino Acid

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a simple organic compound containing both a carboxyl (—COOH) and an amino (—NH2) group.

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Amphipathic

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having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts.

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Anabolic

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refers to chemical reactions in which simpler substances are combined to form more complex molecules

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Carbohydrate

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any of a large group of organic compounds occurring in foods and living tissues and including sugars, starch, and cellulose. They contain hydrogen and oxygen in the same ratio as water (2:1) and typically can be broken down to release energy in the animal body.

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Carbon

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the chemical element of atomic number 6, a nonmetal that has two main forms (diamond and graphite) and that also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot, and coal.

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Catabolic

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set of metabolic pathways that breaks down molecules into smaller units that are either oxidized to release energy, or used in other anabolic reactions.

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Catalyst

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a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself undergoing any permanent chemical change.

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Coenzyme

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a nonprotein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme.

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Denaturation

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the alteration of a protein shape through some form of external stress (for example, by applying heat, acid or alkali), in such a way that it will no longer be able to carry out its cellular function.

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Disaccharide

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

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Hydrogen bond

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a weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other

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Hydrophilic

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having a tendency to mix with, dissolve in, or be wetted by water.

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Hydrophobic

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tending to repel or fail to mix with water.

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Ion

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an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons.

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Lipid

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any of a class of organic compounds that are fatty acids or their derivatives and are insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents. They include many natural oils, waxes, and steroids.

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Macromolecule

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a molecule containing a very large number of atoms, such as a protein, nucleic acid, or synthetic polymer.

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Monomer

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a molecule that can be bonded to other identical molecules to form a polymer.

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Monosaccharide

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

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Non-polar molecule

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has no separation of charge, so no positive or negative poles are formed

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Nucleic acid

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a complex organic substance present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain

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Nucleotide

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a compound consisting of a nucleoside linked to a phosphate group. Nucleotides form the basic structural unit of nucleic acids such as DNA.

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Organic molecule

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molecule of the kind normally found in living systems. Organic molecules are usually composed of carbon atoms in rings or long chains, to which are attached other atoms of such elements as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen

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Peptide bond

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a covalent chemical bond formed between two amino acid molecules.

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Polar molecule

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an asymmetric molecule with non-uniform positive and negative charges; also called dipole. A polar molecule has a partial positive charge in one part of the molecule and complementary negative charge in another part.

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Polymer

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a substance that has a molecular structure consisting chiefly or entirely of a large number of similar units bonded together, e.g., many synthetic organic materials used as plastics and resins.

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Protein

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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.

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Substrate

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a substance or layer that underlies something, or on which some process occurs, in particular.

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Water

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a colorless, transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms. H2O