Biochem Review

Make-up of an atom

• Protons and neutrons in nucleus
• Electrons in cloud around nucleus

Atoms

• Number of neutrons can vary among isotopes
• Protons plus neutrons = mass

If the mass of a chlorine atom is 35 units, how many neutrons does it have? (Atomic number 17)

35 - 17 = 18 neutrons

Bonding

• Carbon likes to have 4 bonds
• Carbon usually bonds with another nonmetal -> covalent
• Covalent bonds require a lot of energy to break

Amino acid structure

Glycerols are the frameworks onto which we stick fatty acid chains to form glycerides.

Glycerides are used for energy storage.

Enzymes

• Increased temp disrupt structure
• Change pH change shape

Enzymes

• Examples: pepsin, protease
• Change pH change shape
• Increased temp disrupt structure

Induced fit model: substrate binding also slightly changes shape of enzyme.

Water

• Ions dissolve well
• Polar molecules dissolve well