DNA Details
DNA stands for deoxyribonucleic acid. It is special, because it holds the code for every cell in your body. That's right. Every cell in your body uses DNA as an instruction…
The Nucleic Acids
The nucleic acids are the building blocks of living organisms. You may have heard of DNA described the same way. Guess what? DNA is just one type of nucleic acid. Some other types…
Secondary, Tertiary, Quatemary Structures
Secondary Structure Stretches or strands of proteins or peptides have distinct, characteristic local structural conformations, or secondary structure, dependent on hydrogen bonding. The two main types of secondary structure are…
Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins are unsaturated carboxylic acids, consisting of of a 20 carbon skeleton that also contains a five member ring. They are biochemically synthesized from the fatty acid, arachidonic acid. See…
Carbohydrate Molecules
Carbohydrates can be represented by the stoichiometric formula (CH2O)n, where n is the number of carbons in the molecule. Therefore, the ratio of carbon to hydrogen to oxygen is 1:2:1…
Hydrogenation of Carbonyl and Imine Groups
An overview of hydrogenation and dehydrogenation Many of the redox reactions that you will encounter when studying the central metabolic pathways are classified as hydrogenation or dehydrogenation reactions. Hydrogenation is…
Definition of Saponification
Should I make it in liquid form or as a hand bar? Does it need to be extra moisturizing? What intensity of creaminess should the soap contain? These are just…
Cholesterol
Cholesterol is the most common steroid and is mainly synthesized in the liver; it is the precursor to vitamin D. Cholesterol is also a precursor to many important steroid hormones…
Structure of Steroid Molecules
Unlike phospholipids and fats, steroids have a fused ring structure. Although they do not resemble the other lipids, they are grouped with them because they are also hydrophobic and insoluble…
Defining Characteristics of Phospholipids
Phospholipids are major components of the plasma membrane, the outermost layer of animal cells. Like fats, they are composed of fatty acid chains attached to a glycerol backbone. Unlike triglycerides,…
