TERMS I SHOULD REMEMBER BIOCHEM

Functional Groups

Chemical Commonly found

Name Structure Properties Common Functions
Formula in
Abundant in
*polar Tends to make things
Hydroxyl SUGARS and
*hydrophilic more water soluble
ALCOHOLS

Methyl R-CH3 *non-polar  

The site of enzymatic C-

Carbonyl C=O *polar Every SUGAR
C bond breaking/making

Amino acids
*acidic Multifaceted Fatty acids
Carboxyl R-COOH Acetic acids
*charged (-) biological aid
Other acids

Amino acids
Biological base
maintains 3D structure Neurotransmitters
*basic Bases of nucleic
Amino of large molecules
*charged (+) acids
defines base pairs in
nucleic acids
Amino acid-
Thiol forms fi-sulfide bonds cysteine
*polar enzymatic properties Acetyl-CoA
(Sulfhydryl)

Phospholipids
regulation
*acidic DNA backbone
Phosphate PO43- *charged (-) energy
NTP
*hydrophilic structural support
Protein regulation