Chemistry of Life

Speed up metabolic reactions by lowering activation energy

Store genetic code for protein synthesis

Forming bilayers that separate cellular environments

Serve as recognition sites for cell-cell communication

Beta-glycosidic linkages that create linear, fibrous chains

Alpha-glycosidic linkages that allow easy digestion

Phosphodiester bonds creating branching patterns

Peptide bonds forming globular shapes

Hydroxyl group

Nitrogenous base

Sugar molecule

Phosphate group

Altered substrate specificity due to changes in active site conformation.

Enhanced solubility owing to more exposed hydrophilic R-groups on the surface.

Increased stability from additional disulfide bridges far from the active site.

Reduced degradation rate because of tighter folding protecting peptide bonds.

They bind irreversibly covalently modifying enzyme

They cause allosteric inhibition altering enzyme shape

They change primary protein structures affecting function

They bind to active site, preventing substrate binding

Aerobic cellular respiration during oxidative phosphorylation

The Calvin cycle during carbon fixation

Photosynthesis during the light-dependent reactions

Anaerobic fermentation during lactate formation

It could increase the rate of photosynthesis, resulting in thicker cell walls and more robust plants.

It may disrupt hydrogen bonding, leading to altered cellulose structure and impaired plant growth.

Lower pH levels might lead to increased cellulose production, promoting faster growth in aquatic plants.

The decreased pH could enhance mineral absorption, improving the structural integrity of cellulose.

Nucleic acids

Proteins

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Saturated fats would decrease membrane permeability to ions crucial for signal transduction pathways.

A higher ratio of saturated fats could enhance endocytosis efficiency, affecting receptor-mediated signaling processes.

Increased unsaturated fats would enhance membrane fluidity, potentially facilitating signal transduction under cold temperatures where membranes risk becoming too rigid.

Unsaturated fats might impede vesicle fusion with the plasma membrane due to decreased van der Waals forces among fatty acid tails.

DNA contains thymine while RNA contains uracil

DNA is single-stranded while RNA is double-stranded

DNA contains ribose sugar while RNA contains deoxyribose sugar

DNA is involved in transcription while RNA is involved in translation