GENERAL BIOLOGY 1

LESSON 4: CELLULAR CHEMISTRY

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
- Many molecules contain carbon atoms
bonded to each other or to atoms of other
elements. These carbon-containing
molecules are called organic compounds.

- Organic compounds that contain only

carbon and hydrogen atoms are called
hydrocarbons.
- Hydrocarbons are considered nonpolar. - Monomers are linked together via covalent
(polar means oppositely charged, and non- bonds into polymers.
polar means equally charged.)
- However, most organic molecules inside a
cell contain atoms other than hydrogen and 1. CARBOHYDRATES ( CH 2 O ) n
carbon.
- Carbohydrates are chains of organic
- For example, (-OH) hydroxyl group may
molecules with a 1:2:1 mole ratio of carbon,
be bonded to an apparent carbon chain.
hydrogen, and oxygen.

- Carbohydrates act as energy storage or

food reserves in plants and animals, and
this role is attributed to many carbon-
hydrogen bonds contained in carbohydrate
molecules.

- Carbohydrates are an important source of

This group is a type of a functional group.
ORGANIC MOLECULES
- All contain carbon
- May also contain hydrogen, oxygen,
nitrogen, and some minor elements.
MACROMOLECULES
- A very large molecule important to
biophysical processes.
- Macromolecules consist of individual
subunits called monomers.
energy used in many metabolic activities.
Carbohydrates are generally classified as
simple or complex.
- The simple carbohydrates, being small and
therefore may be easily decomposed into its
basic unit, provide an instant source of
energy. Examples include sugars found in
candies.
- Complex carbohydrates, on the other
hand, serve as structural materials for cells.
- Complex carbohydrates are composed of
simple carbohydrates covalently bonded to
each other.

- Hemoglobin is a protein found in the red

blood cells and is used to carry oxygen.
(574 amino acids in order).

- Insulin, the protein that regulates

metabolism. (51 amino acids in order)

2. PROTEIN (Amino Acid) - Proteins may be polar or nonpolar.

Oftentimes they have both polar and
- Proteins are complex molecules composed
nonpolar parts.
of one or more chains of amino acids linked
by peptide bonds. - Enzymes, transporters, defense or
regulators of cell processes.
- Peptide bonds are a type of covalent
bond.

- An amino acid is a building block of

proteins.

- Keratin is a structural protein that is found

in your skin, hair, and nails. Collagen is the
most abundant protein in your body and is
the structural protein of your bones,
tendons, ligaments, and skin.
- It consists of a central carbon with the
following units bonded to it – an amino
3. LIPIDS (Functions as membranes)
group (-N𝑯_𝟐), a carboxyl group (-COOH),
and a side chain (R).

- The 20 amino acids that makeup proteins

have side groups with varying properties.
Hence, the number and sequence of amino
acids affect the properties and functions of
a particular protein.
- Lipids are organic molecules that are
insoluble in water because of their lack of
many polar and H-bonding functional
groups.

- Lipids have a very high proportion of

carbon-hydrogen bonds.

- Because of the hydrophobicity (water-

fearing) of the lipid tail, lipids can serve as
an effective cellular membrane component.
They also serve as storage of energy.

- The three types of lipids are triglycerides,

phospholipids, and steroids.

4. NUCLEIC ACID (contains genetic

information)

- Nucleic acids act as storage of genetic

information in cells.

- Common examples includes

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic
acid (RNA).

- Nucleic acids are made up of repeating

units of monomers known as nucleotides.

- These nucleotides are composed of sugar,

phosphate, and nitrogenous bases that are
covalently bound together.

- Cells use the information in DNA by

coming up with a complementary single
strand of messenger RNA, which then
directs the production of proteins needed in
the living organism.
Biomolecule Group Source Function

Carbohydrates Bread, grains, rice, potato • Stores Energy

• Provide structural Support

Proteins Meat, chicken, milk and dairy • Transport Substances

products
• Speeds up chemical
reactions

• Provide Structural support

• Make hormones

Lipids Pork, avocado, tuna, Source of energy

chocolate

Nucleic Acids Seafoods, nuts, vegetables, Plays a vital role in the production
mushroom of proteins