BIOCH 200

An element that is present in small quantities in a living organism

(alpha amino acid) A compound consisiting of a carbon atom to which are attached a primary amino group, a carboxylate group, a side chain (R group), and an H atom

A compound with the formula (CH₂O)_n where n is greater than or equal to three. Also called a sacchardie

A carbohydrate consisting of a single sugar molecule

A compound consisting of a nucleoside esterified to one or more phosphate groups.  Nucleotides are the monomeric units units of nucleic acid

Any membrer of a broad class of macromolecules that are largely or wholly hydrophobic and therefore tend to be insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents.

A structural unit from which a polymer is built up.

A molecule consisting of numerous smaller units that are linked together in an organized manner.

A term for a monomeric unit after it has been incorporated into a polymer

An amide linkage between the alpha-amino group of one amino acid and the alpha-carboxylate group of another.  Peptide bonds link the amino acid reidues in a polypeptide.

The linkage in which a phosphate group is esterified to two alcohol groups (eg. two ribose units that join the adjacent nucleotide residues in a polynucleotide)

The covalent linkage between two monosacchrides units in a polysaccharide, or the linkage between the anomeric carbon of a saccharide and an alcohol or amine.