Explain the difference between C3, C4, and CAM plants

The difference between C3, C4, and CAM plants are their process of light and dark reactions.    All three are alternatives to conserve water to limit the amount of water loss, to ultimately create more product through photosynthesis.

C3 plants close their stomata on hot, dry days to limit water loss.  Carbon dioxide enters the Calvin cycle and the first product of fixation is 3-phosphoglycerate.  When stomata closed, CO2  concentration in the leafs air spaces falls, slowing down the Calvin cycle.
   


C4 plants opened their stomata during the day.  C4 plants fix carbon dioxide into 4 carbon compounds.  Co2 is first added to PEP with adis of PEP carboxylase resulting 4 carbon compound formed in mesophyll cells.  These compounds are able to transport through bundle-sheath cells.  Compounds are broken down to release CO2, which initiate the Calvin cycle.

The CAM plants open their stomata during the night.  In doing so, they reverse the performance of regular plants.  The light reactions are conducted during the night while the Calvin cycle occurred during the day.  These plants are commonly cactus.  In the desert, it would be beneficial because the day time is usually really hot and these plants would conserve water during the day.

Five Things I Learned From 3D Molecular Models

1.  Glucose is a hexose of the aldose  type, which is called an aldohexose.  Glucose is the most stable form as glucopyranose. 


2. Cellulose is the major polysaccharide in wood and in structural parts of plants, usually the outer layer, such as stems and leaves.  Cellulose is formed by the linkage of D-glucose molecules through glycosidic beta bonds.



3.  Amino acids are made up of an amino group and a carboxyl group linked to the same carbon atom.  The letter R represents the rest of the molecule.  It is what differentiates one amino acid from the others.  Proteins are composed of 20 types of amino acids.



4. The tertiary structure of a protein is the whole 3D structure of a protein.  It is a combination of several different secondary structures on each part of the molecule.  The protein lysozyme under tertiary structure composed of several alpha helices, one beta sheet, and zones without a regular secondary structure. 


5. DNA are formed by linkage of deoxyribonucleotide monophosphates.  DNA is formed as a double helix and consists on two chains associated by means of hydrogen bonds between nitrogenous bases.

Describe how the structure of macromolecules affects their function?

Macromolecules, in simple terms, are long polymers.  Polymers are made up of basic building blocks called monomers.  When monomers link together, they form polymers.  According to the structure of the macromolecules, the functional group of the molecules change and affect the function of the macromolecule.  Functional group and the structure first affect the monomers of the macromolecules.  For example, although glucose and fructose are all six carbon sugar with the exact same functional groups, but the isomer, or the shape of the monomer change its function.  When monomers link, the way they link may affect the macromolecule.  For example, when cysteine (amino acids) link to form a peptide, cysteine forms disulfide bonds.  This is one of the special function of protein because protein is able to coil and fold based on the numerous bonds in the peptides.   The structure of macromolecule, such as protein, affect the function.  For a macromolecule like protein, protein only functions when the protein is in its folded structure.  If a protein is to denature and unfold, the protein would not even work.  Enzymes only work under a certain conditions, and if enzymes are to denature, then enzymes will no longer catalyze substrates.      

Biochemistry Wordle

Terms used: Biochemistry, atom, molecule, covalent-bond, monomers, polymers, solution, solute, solvent, ionic-bond, functional-group, nonpolar, polar, hydrogen-bond, amino acids, fatty acids, nucleotides, sugar, glucose, protein, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, DNA, RNA, Phospholipid, macromolecules, hydrolysis, dehydration, pH, acids, base, elections, neutrons, protons, valence, matter, water, specific-heat

Wordle link: http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/4198048/biochemistry

Why?
I choose these terms for the biochemistry chapters because they represent the most important aspects of the chapters.  While matter and chemical bonds take the overview of the biochemistry chapters by explaining the importance of chemistry in biology, the four macromolecules, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins illustrates how organic chemistry is essential part of both biology and chemistry.  Water is also another important aspect of biochemistry.  Water is the universal solvent and has special properties, such as surface tension and high specific heat.  The pH in an environment is also important.  By having a stable pH, most biological functions will work, however sometimes, in extreme acid or base environment, some functions very little, some cease to function.  Overall, the biochemistry chapter starts with the concept of matter and atoms.  The subparticle of atoms, especially electrons, play an important role in bonding and reacting with other atoms, to form molecules.  All organic molecules are built based on monomers, extended to polymers.