Weekly Flashcard: Proteins and Nucleic Acids

Front

What is the general structure of an amino acid?

Back

An amino acid consists of a central carbon atom, an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group (COOH), a hydrogen atom, and an 'R' group (side chain) that varies among different amino acids.

Front

What is the function of the 'R' group in amino acids?

Back

The 'R' group determines the specific properties and characteristics of each amino acid, influencing protein structure and function.

Front

Which part of the amino acid structure is the amino group?

Back

The amino group is the part of the amino acid that contains a nitrogen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms (NH2). It is typically represented on the left side of the amino acid structure.

Front

What is the role of the carboxyl group in amino acids?

Back

The carboxyl group (COOH) is responsible for the acidic properties of amino acids and participates in peptide bond formation.

Front

What are proteins made of?

Back

Proteins are polymers made up of long chains of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Front

What is the primary structure of a protein?

Back

The primary structure of a protein is the linear sequence of amino acids in a polypeptide chain.

Front

What is the secondary structure of a protein?

Back

The secondary structure refers to the local folding of the polypeptide chain into structures such as alpha helices and beta sheets, stabilized by hydrogen bonds.

Front

What is the tertiary structure of a protein?

Back

The tertiary structure is the overall three-dimensional shape of a single polypeptide chain, determined by interactions among the side chains (R groups) of the amino acids.

Front

What is the quaternary structure of a protein?

Back

The quaternary structure is formed when two or more polypeptide chains come together to form a functional protein.

Front

What are nucleic acids?

Back

Nucleic acids are polymers made up of nucleotide monomers, which include DNA and RNA.