3 x 1 hour lessons

This module covers the structure, properties and reactions of biologically important molecules, including amino acids, proteins, enzymes, DNA and anticancer drugs. You’ll review how these molecules interact, how they are formed and broken down, and how their properties are essential to biological function and therapeutic use.

By the end of this module you will be able to:

• Draw and interpret the structures of amino acids and describe their zwitterionic nature

• Explain peptide bond formation and describe the structure of proteins

• Understand the role and specificity of enzymes, and the effects of temperature and pH on enzyme activity

• Describe the structure of DNA and outline its base-pairing principles

• Describe how drugs can be designed to interact with DNA and act as anticancer agents

AQA Specification Points:

3.31 Amino acids

3.32 Proteins

3.33 Enzymes

3.34 DNA

3.35 Action of anticancer drugs