Chapter 20: Problem 34

Explain how a similar reaction forms three kinds of biological polymers: polysaccha- rides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids.

Short Answer

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Polysaccharides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids, which are biological polymers, all form through condensation reactions. This involves the linking of monomers where a water molecule is removed each time a new bond is formed. In polysaccharides, it's a glycosidic bond between monosaccharides; in polypeptides, it's a peptide bond between amino acids; and in nucleic acids, it's a phosphodiester bond between nucleotides.

Step by step solution

Explain How Polysaccharides are Formed

Polysaccharides are formed by linking monosaccharide molecules together through condensation reactions. For each new bond, a water molecule is removed. This happens when the hydroxyl group (\(OH\)) of one monosaccharide combines with the hydrogen atom (\(H\)) of another, releasing a molecule of water (\(H_2O\)) and forming a glycosidic bond between the two monosaccharide molecules.

Describe How Polypeptides are Formed

Polypeptides are formed in a similar way. The carboxyl group (\(-COOH\)) of one amino acid combines with the amino group (\(-NH_2\)) of another amino acid, releasing a water molecule and forming a peptide bond. The resulting molecule is a dipeptide, and this process can continue, adding more amino acids to the chain to form a polypeptide.

Discuss Nucleic Acid Formation

Nucleic acids are formed when a phosphate group on the 5' carbon of one nucleotide covalently bonds with the hydroxyl group on the 3' carbon of another nucleotide, forming a phosphodiester bond and releasing a molecule of water. This results in the formation of a long chain of nucleotides, forming the nucleic acid.

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Explain how a similar reaction forms three kinds of biological polymers: polysaccha- rides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids.

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Explain How Polysaccharides are Formed

Describe How Polypeptides are Formed

Discuss Nucleic Acid Formation

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