Biomolecules Mind Map

Carbohydrates are optically active polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones, or compounds that give such units on hydrolysis.

When asked to classify, check the number of monosaccharide units obtained on hydrolysis before writing the class.

Glucose is an aldohexose that exists in an open-chain form and mainly in cyclic hemiacetal forms, giving alpha and beta anomers.

For cyclic glucose, always locate C-1 first. The difference between alpha and beta forms is decided only at C-1, not at every hydroxyl group.

Proteins are polymers of alpha-amino acids joined through peptide bonds, and a peptide bond is the amide linkage -CO-NH- formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

In peptide bond questions, circle the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of the next before writing the product.

Protein structure is described at four levels: primary sequence, secondary folding, tertiary three-dimensional shape, and quaternary association of multiple polypeptide chains.

Use the order sequence to shape: primary is order, secondary is local fold, tertiary is full 3D fold, quaternary is multiple chains.

Enzymes are biological catalysts, mostly proteins, that increase the rate of biochemical reactions without being consumed in the reaction.

For enzyme questions, mention biological catalyst, specificity, active site, and sensitivity to temperature and pH.

Nucleic acids are biomolecules made of nucleotide units, where each nucleotide contains a nitrogenous base, a pentose sugar, and a phosphate group.

For DNA-RNA comparison, write sugar difference, strand nature, bases, and role in protein synthesis.

Vitamins are organic compounds required in small amounts for normal growth and metabolism, while hormones are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands to regulate body processes.

Remember fat-soluble vitamins as A, D, E, K. Most others commonly discussed at this level are water-soluble.