U2 Learning Journal - Crossword Across 1. Protein That ✓ Solved

U2 Learning Journal - Crossword Across 1. protein that

U2 Learning Journal - Crossword Across 1. protein that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions 6. component of fat molecule 8. acidic group in amino acids 9. monosaccharide commonly found in fruit 11. fatty acid with hydrogens in different planes 12. monomer subunit of protein 14. major constituent of plasma membrane 17. fatty acid containing no double bonds 18. nucleic acid found only in RNA 19. bond formed between two amino acids 20. number of amino acids Down 2. single unit of a polymer 3. structure of polypeptide chain that contains beta sheets 4. provides structural support in plant cells 5. type of bond between monosaccharides in a chain 7. used for long term energy storage 10. biological macromolecule with a ratio of 1 C:2 H:1 O 13. sugar backbone of DNA 15. type of reaction used to form polymers 16. adenine and guanine are this type of nucleotide

Paper For Above Instructions

The clues in this U2 Learning Journal Crossword are built from foundational concepts in biochemistry and cell biology. Answering them correctly requires understanding how biomolecules are structured and function, which is essential for interpreting metabolic pathways, signaling, and genetic expression (Campbell et al., 2014). Below, I address each clue category—proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and the types of bonds and monomers that connect them—and connect the answers to core principles in contemporary biology (Alberts et al., 2014; Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2015).

Across 1. protein that acts as a catalyst in biochemical reactions — ENZYME. Enzymes are biological catalysts that accelerate chemical reactions by lowering activation energy, enabling cellular processes to occur with remarkable specificity and efficiency (Nelson & Cox, 2017). The active site geometry and the presence of cofactors or coenzymes modulate activity. This concept underpins much of metabolism and signal transduction, illustrating how molecular structure governs function (Alberts et al., 2014).

Across 6. component of fat molecule — GLYCEROL. A triglyceride backbone consists of glycerol esterified to three fatty acids. Glycerol is a 3-carbon alcohol that provides the structural scaffold for energy storage lipids, while the fatty acid chains contribute hydrophobic character and energy density (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2015).

Across 8. acidic group in amino acids — CARBOXYL GROUP. The carboxyl group (–COOH) confers acidity to amino acids, influencing charge state and interactions at physiological pH. Its ionizable proton participates in peptide bond formation and protein folding dynamics (Nelson & Cox, 2017).

Across 9. monosaccharide commonly found in fruit — FRUCTOSE. Fructose is a ketohexose abundant in fruits and honey; it is a contributor to energy metabolism and carbohydrate processing within cells, often entering glycolysis after isomerization (Campbell et al., 2014).

Across 11. fatty acid with hydrogens in different planes — TRANS FATTY ACID. Trans fats arise when double bonds in fatty acids are configured so that hydrogens lie on opposite sides, leading to distinct shapes and physical properties that affect membrane fluidity and health outcomes (Stryer, 2015).

Across 12. monomer subunit of protein — AMINO ACID. Proteins are polymerized from amino acids linked by peptide bonds; their sequence determines folding, structure, and function, illustrating a central dogma of molecular biology (Alberts et al., 2014).

Across 14. major constituent of plasma membrane — PHOSPHOLIPID. The phospholipid bilayer forms the fundamental architecture of cell membranes, providing a selective barrier and a matrix for proteins that mediate transport and signaling (Lodish et al., 2016).

Across 17. fatty acid containing no double bonds — SATURATED FATTY ACID. Saturated fats have no double bonds and tend to be solid at room temperature; their hydrocarbon chains maximize van der Waals interactions, influencing membrane rigidity and energy storage properties (Berg, Tymoczko, & Stryer, 2015).

Across 18. nucleic acid found only in RNA — URACIL. In RNA, uracil replaces thymine as the pyrimidine base, pairing with adenine during transcription and translation processes; this base distinction is a hallmark of RNA chemistry (Voet, Voet, & Pratt, 2013).

Across 19. bond formed between two amino acids — PEPTIDE BOND. Peptide bonds are amide linkages formed through a dehydration synthesis reaction, connecting the α-carboxyl group of one amino acid to the amino group of the next (Nelson & Cox, 2017).

Across 20. number of amino acids — 20. The canonical set of standard amino acids comprises twenty natural amino acids used to build proteins, encoded by the genetic code and contributing to a vast diversity of protein structures and functions (Campbell et al., 2014).

Down 2. single unit of a polymer — MONOMER. Polymers are built from repeating monomeric units; in biology, nucleotides form nucleic acids, amino acids form proteins, and monosaccharides form polysaccharides (Alberts et al., 2014).

Down 3. structure of polypeptide chain that contains beta sheets — BETA-PLEATED SHEET. Beta sheets are a form of secondary structure stabilized by hydrogen bonds between backbone atoms; these sheets contribute to the overall topology and stability of proteins (Lodish et al., 2016).

Down 4. provides structural support in plant cells — CELLULOSE. This polysaccharide is a major component of plant cell walls, contributing to rigidity and resilience of plant tissues (Campbell et al., 2014).

Down 5. type of bond between monosaccharides in a chain — GLYCOSIDIC BOND. Glycosidic bonds join monosaccharides to form disaccharides and polysaccharides, determining the digestibility and properties of carbohydrates (Voet, Voet, & Pratt, 2013).

Down 7. used for long term energy storage — LIPID. Lipids, including triglycerides, store energy efficiently due to high caloric content per gram and hydrophobic character; they also contribute to membrane structure and signaling (Stryer, 2015).

Down 10. biological macromolecule with a ratio of 1 C:2 H:1 O — CARBOHYDRATE. Empirical formula CH2O repeats in carbohydrates, reflecting their role as a primary energy source and structural component in cells (Nelson & Cox, 2017).

Down 13. sugar backbone of DNA — DEOXYRIBOSE. The deoxyribose sugar forms the backbone of DNA, providing the structural framework for nucleic acid polymers when linked by phosphodiester bonds (Alberts et al., 2014).

Down 15. type of reaction used to form polymers — DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS. Polymerization via dehydration synthesis removes water to form covalent bonds between monomers, a fundamental process in biomolecule construction (Voet, Voet, & Pratt, 2013).

Down 16. adenine and guanine are this type of nucleotide — PURINE. Purines are large, two-ring nitrogenous bases; adenine and guanine are purines, distinguishing them from pyrimidines like cytosine and thymine (Lodish et al., 2016).

In summary, solving the crossword underscores how macromolecular chemistry builds biological function—from enzymes and amino acids to nucleic acids and lipids. The across and down clues collectively illustrate the interconnected roles of molecular structure in metabolism, signaling, energy storage, and genetic information flow. Understanding these concepts through the lens of chemical bonds, monomer units, and biomolecule architectures aligns with foundational biology curricula and supports higher-order reasoning about cellular processes (Campbell et al., 2014; Alberts et al., 2014).

References

• Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2014). Molecular Biology of the Cell (6th ed.). Garland Science.
• Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L., & Stryer, L. (2015). Biochemistry (8th ed.). W. H. Freeman.
• Nelson, D. L., & Cox, M. M. (2017). Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry (7th ed.). W. H. Freeman.
• Campbell, N. A., Reece, J. B., Urry, L., Cain, M., Wasserman, S., Minorsky, P., & Taylor, R. (2014). Biology (10th ed.). Pearson.
• Lodish, H., Berk, A., Zipursky, S. L., Matsudaira, P., Baltimore, D., Darnell, J., et al. (2016). Molecular Cell Biology (8th ed.). W. H. Freeman.
• Voet, D., Voet, G., & Pratt, C. (2013). Fundamentals of Biochemistry (4th ed.). Wiley.
• Stryer, L. (2015). Biochemistry (8th ed.). W. H. Freeman.
• Cooper, G. M., & Hausman, R. E. (2013). The Cell: A Molecular Approach (6th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
• Additional foundational concepts referenced across multiple sources in the Biochemistry and Cell Biology literature.