Name _____________________________________________________________________ Per________Test Date ________________

UNIT VI –BIOCHEMISTRY
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF CARBON (pgs. 147-157; 166-167)
Although a cell is composed of 70% to 95% __WATER_, most of the rest consists of
_CARBON_-based molecules. Carbon’s importance is due largely to the arrangement of its
_VALENCE ELECTRONS_.
A. Structure of Carbon
1. Atomic # 6; has 6 protons & 6 electrons; 2 in first
shell & 4 in second
2. Has 4 _VALENCE_ electrons; so can make four
_COVALENT_ bonds.
3. Usually bonds with: __S, P, O, N, H_
4. Can also form bonds with other _CARBON_
atoms.
5. Compounds with carbon- carbon bonds are called _ORGANIC_;
compounds not containing carbon are known as _INORGANIC_.

B. Biomolecules (also known as macromolecules)

Organic molecules associated with living organisms
1. Polymers
a. “poly” means _MANY_.
b. polymer is a large molecule composed
of _SIMILAR_ identical or similar building
blocks.

2. Monomers
a. “mono” means _ONE__.
b. The sub- units, or _BUILDING BLOCKS_
of polymers
3. Dehydration Synthesis
a. reaction that _COVALENTLY_ bonds two
or more molecules together.
b. _WATER_ is released as a waste product.

4. Hydrolysis
a. reaction that __breaks___ the covalent bond between
two or more molecules.
b. Requires the addition of _water_____

5. Classes of biomolecules (macromolecules) are:

a. _CARBOHYDRATES_ b. _LIPIDS_
c. _PROTEINS__ d. _NUCLEIC ACIDS_
II. CARBOHYDRATES (pg. 168)
A. Elements: contain the elements _C_, _H_, and _O_. ; always in a 2:1 ratio of H atoms to
O atoms (2H:1O)
B. Monomer: monosaccharide
C. Function: Carbohydrates are used for immediate and stored _ENERGY_, as well as for
_BUILDING MATERIAL_.
D. Food Source: _SUGARS_ & __STARCHES__
E. Examples:
1. Monosaccharides “_ONE_ - sugar”
Simplest of all sugars. Although they vary in the number of _C_ atoms
that make up the molecule, the ratio of _1C: 2H:1O_ is always present.

a. 5-carbon monosaccharides –
* _DEOXYRIBOSE_ - found in _DNA__
* _RIBOSE__ - found in _RNA_.

b. 6-carbon monosaccharides – Examples are _GLUCOSE_, _FRUCTOSE_, and

_GALACTOSE_.
These three sugars all have the formula, _C6H12O6_ and are known as _ISOMERS_.
Isomers have the same chemical formula, but the _ATOMS_ are arranged differently
giving each molecule _DIFFERENT PROPERTIES__.
1. Glucose – Preferred _ENERGY SOURCE_ for
most organisms, including humans.
Made by plants; found in sports drinks.

2. Fructose - _VERY SWEET_. Found in _FRUIT_.

3. Galactose - _MONOMER_ of __MILK_ sugar.

*Monosaccharides are the _MONOMERS_ or building blocks for the more complex
carbohydrates → _DISACCHARIDES_*
_POLYSACCHARIDES__*

2. Disaccharides “_TWO_ sugars”

a. _TWO_ monosaccharides _COVALENTLY_
bonded together through _DEHYDRATION
SYNTHESIS_.

b. Examples:
1. Sucrose - _TABLE SUGAR__.
Composed of _GLUCOSE + FRUCTOSE__
2. Lactose - _MILK SUGAR_.
Composed of __GLUCOSE + GALACTOSE___
3. Maltose - _GRAIN SUGAR_.
Composed of _GLUCOSE + GLUCOSE__

3. Polysaccharides “_MANY_ sugars”

a. _MANY__ monosaccharides _COVALENTLY_bonded together through dehydration
synthesis.
b. They are divided into two groups based on function:
1. Storage Polysaccharides – Long __POLYMERS__ of _GLUCOSE_ broken down
as needed for _ENERGY__
a. Glycogen – Storage form of _GLUCOSE__ in __ANIMALS__. In humans,
most glycogen is stored in _LIVER_ and _MUSCLE_ cells.

b. Starch – Storage form of _ GLUCOSE _ in _PLANTS__. Humans are able to

break down starch to its monomers of _GLUCOSE_ for energy.

2. Structural Polysaccharides – Used as a _BUILDING MATERIALS_ in many

organisms
a. Cellulose – Major component of _PLANT CELL WALLS_. Composed of
monomers of _ GLUCOSE covalently bonded together. The bonds between the
glucose monomers in cellulose are arranged differently than those
found in starch; therefore, humans cannot break down cellulose for _ ENERGY.
It is still important to our diet
as a source of _FIBER_.
 b. Chitin – Major component of _FUNGI_ cell walls and the _EXOSKELETON_ of
insects and other arthropods.

IV. LIPIDS (pg. 169)

Very diverse group of _NON-POLAR_ molecules defined by their _INSOLUBILITY_ in water.
(waxy, fatty, or oily)

A. Elements: _C_, _H_, and _O_, but lipids do not have the _1C: 2H:1O_ratio found in
carbohydrates.
B. Monomer: doesn’t really have one
C. Function: Our bodies need lipids for _ENERGY STORAGE, INSULATION,
CUSHIONING_.

D. Where found in the body: cell membrane, innermost layer of skin, surrounding some
organs
E. Food Source: butter, shortening, olive oil, etc.
F. Examples:
1. Fats
a. Made up of a _GLYCEROL AND 3 FATTY ACIDS_, joined together by
_DEHYDRATION_ synthesis.
b. Classified as _SATURATED FATS_ if structure contains no carbon-carbon double
bonds; is solid at room temperature; comes from ANIMAL source. Ex: LARD,
BACON GREASE
c. Classified as _UNSATURATED FATS _ if structure contains at least one carbon-
carbon double bond; is liquid at room temperature; comes from PLANT source. Ex:
OILS – OLIVE, CANOLA, VEGETABLE, PEANUT
d. _ SATURATED _ fats have been linked to heart disease.

Saturated fat Unsaturated fat

2. Phospholipids
a. Unique lipid because one end of the molecule is polar, but the other end is _NON-
POLAR_.
b. Primary component of all __CELL MEMBRANES__.

3. Steroids
a. Differ from other lipids in that they lack
_FATTY ACID TAILS_.
b. Used for _HORMONE_ production.
c. An important example is
_CHOLESTEROL_, which is found in the
_CELL MEMBRANE _ of animal cells.
Other examples include ESTROGEN and
TESTOSTERONE, which are female and
male sex hormones.
V. PROTEINS (pg. 170)
A. Elements: _C, H, O, N_, and sometimes __S_
B. Monomer: _AMINO ACID__
1. Only _20_ different amino acid monomers.

2. All 20 amino acids are _IDENTICAL_ except for a portion called the _R GROUP_, or
variable group.

3. 2 __AMINO ACIDS__ can join together by __DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS __

and form a covalent bond known as a _PEPTIDE_ bond.

4. When many amino acids combine together through dehydration synthesis, the result
is a POLYPEPTIDE CHAIN, which is the basis to the formation of a protein.
 5. There are __4__ different shapes of proteins - _PRIMARY, SECONDARY,
TERTIARY, and QUATERNARY._

C. Function: support, structure, protection, _CELL TRANSPORT_, _METABOLISM_,

_HORMONES, cell identification & communication.

D. Where found in the body: muscles, hair, skin, blood

E. Food source: meats, peanuts, eggs, beans
F. Examples:
1. Enzymes
a. biological _CATALYSTS__
b. A catalyst _TRIGGERS_ a chemical reaction without being _USED UP_.
c. Could not maintain _HOMEOSTASIS_ without them.
2. Collagen, ELASTIN, HEMOGLOBIN, KERATIN
3. Cell membrane: PROTEIN CHANNELS AND PUMPS
VI. NUCLEIC ACIDS (pg. 171) Nucleotide
A. Elements: _C, H, O, N, P_
B. Monomer: _NUCLEOTIDE_
1. Nucleotides
Each nucleotide consists of three parts:
a. _5-CARBON SUGAR__
b. _PHOSPHATE __
c. _NITROGEN BASE_

C. Function: genetic instructions and usable energy

D. Where found in the body: mostly nucleus of cells (DNA, RNA), or cytosol (ATP)
E. Food source: none
F. Examples:
1. DNA
a. Deoxyribonucleic Acid
b. Composed of 2 _STRANDS_ of
nucleotides covalently bonded
together through dehydration synthesis.
c. Twisted together to form a _DOUBLE
HELIX_ structure.
d. Contains the _GENETIC
INSTRUCTIONS_ for the cell.

2. RNA
a. Ribonucleic Acid
b. _SINGLE_ strand of nucleotides.
c. _CARRIES OUT_ the instructions in DNA.

3. ATP
a. Adenosine Tri-Phosphate
b. _SINGLE_ nucleotide.
c. Provides _USEABLE__ energy for the cell.