Biomolecules Question 16
16. Which one of the following biomolecules is correctly characterized? [2012M]
(a) Lecithin - A phosphorylated glyceride found in cell membrane.
(b) Palmitic acid - An unsaturated fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms.
(c) Adenylic acid - Adenosine with a glucose phosphate molecule.
(d) Alanine amino acid - Contains an amino group and an acidic group anywhere in the molecule.
Show Answer
Answer : a
Hints & Solutions
(a) Palmitic acid is one of the most common, saturated fatty acids found in animals and plants. It has 16 carbons including the carboxyl carbon. Adenylic acid is a nucleotide consisting of adenine, ribose or deoxyribose, and a phosphate group. It is a constituent of DNA or RNA. It is also called adenosine monophosphate. Amino acids are organic acids (with carboxylic group $COOH$ ) having amino group $(-NH_2)$ generally attached to Carbon or carbon next to carboxylic group. The carbon also bears a variable alkyl group $(R)$ or hydrogen or hydrocarbon. In alanine (R) is represented by methyl group.
