Introduction to important molecules

which comprise the structure and

function of all living organisms

Biological Compounds
Categories:

Carbohydrates

Proteins

Lipids

Nucleic Acids

 Principle Elements
Ratio of Various Elements
Special Functional Groups

Hydroxyl ( -OH )

Alcohols

Carbonyl (C=O)

Aldehydes,
Ketones

Carboxyl ( -COOH )

Carboxylic acids

C
O

H
H

Amino ( -NH2 )

Amines

N
H

H
O
Phosphate ( -H2PO4)

O Organic phosphates

O
H

Sulfhydryl ( -SH)

Thiols

Monomer
Subunits that serve as building
blocks
Connected by condensation
reactions (dehydration) Polymers
Covalent bonding occurs
Solubility in Water

Monomer

Polymer

Monomers
H

HO

HO
H2 O
Polymer

C6H12O6 + C6H12O6

C12H22O11 + H2O

H2O

Monomers

H2 O
H

HO

C12H22O11 + H2O

C6H12O6 + C6H12O6

Principle Elements: C, H, & O

H:O = 2:1
Many Hydroxyl Groups (-OH)
Monomers: Monosaccharides
Polymers: Polysaccharides
Water Soluble

Energy Metabolism
Structural Components
Cell-to-Cell Contacts and Recognition
Elimination of wastes (fiber)
APT
cell

HelperT cell

Chemical Formulas
C6H12O6

From corn syrup

C6H12O6

Chemical Formulas
C5H10O5
C5H10O4

deoxyribose

Lactose
glucose + galactose

Maltose
Sucrose

glucose + glucose

glucose + fructose

glycogen

 Principle Elements: C, H, & O

Some With P & N
H:O >>> 2:1
Diverse Group of Biological Molecules
Water Insoluble

 Energy Storage
Protection & Cushioning of Body Organs
Structural Components of Membranes
Chemical Messengers (hormones)

Triglycerides (neutral fats)

Phospholipids
Sterols
Waxes
Vitamins (D, E, K)

Glycerol

Fatty Acid

Saturated with H+
Most animal fats are saturated, ex. butter
Solid at room temp

Glycerol

Fatty Acids

Has one or more double bonds between

carbons
Most vegetable fats
Liquid at room temp

carbon
hydrogen
phosphorous

oxygen

Hydrophilic
head

Hydrophobic
tails

Nonpolar
hydrophobic
tails (fatty
acids)
exposed to oil

Polar hydrophilic
heads exposed
to water

Bacon grease

cholesterol

Cholesterol: < 175 mg/dl

Triglycerides: 30-175 mg/dl
HDL: >35
LDL: <130
Cholesterol/HDL ratio: <4.5
indicates heart disease

Family history of vascular disease

High levels of blood cholesterol
Smoking
Diabetes
Hypertension
Obesity

Eat healthy
Exercise
Lose wt.
Quit smoking
1 glass wine or beer
Medication
Surgery

 Principle Elements: C, H, O, & N

Monomers: Amino Acids
Polymers: Polypeptides or Proteins
Generally Water Soluble

Functional Groups of Amino Acids

Carboxylic Acid (-COOH)
Amine (-NH2)
R-Groups (variable - 20 different kinds)

 Enzymes
Structural Proteins
Chemical Messengers (Hormones)
Contractile
Antibodies

Levels of Protein Structure

Primary
structure

Secondary
structure
Tertiary
structure

Quarternary
structure

Levels of Protein Structure

Primary structure:
Linear sequence of amino acids
NH3

Leu

Cys

Secondary structure:
H-Bonds
Alpha helix
Beta Pleated sheet

Val

Asp

Phe

COO

Levels of Protein Structure

Tertiary:
3D configuration
Weak bonds
between
side chains

Quartenary:
Two or more
polypeptides
e.g. Hemoglobin (Hb)

AA1

AA2

Peptide bond

Dipeptide

Water

GLY

SER

ASP

ASN

ALA

ILE

TYR

ILE

GLN

GLY

MET

LEU

GLN

SER

GLU

HIS

Catalysts- speed up a reaction

Not used up by reaction
Decrease activation energy of a reaction

(activation energy is needed to break chemical bonds)

Enzymatic reactions are affected by:

Temperature
pH

Are very specific for their substrate

Substrates:
Bind only to a restricted region of the enzyme
(active site)
Held in place by weak interactions (H-bonds)
Active
site

Enzyme
(sucrase)

Specificity of enzyme:
Lock and key

Substrate
(sucrose)

The Functioning of Enzymes

active
site

Enzyme

Principle Elements: C, H, O, N, & P

Monomers: Nucleotides
Polymers: Nucleic Acids
Generally Water Soluble

Nucleotide Components:
Ribose (5-C) Sugar
Phosphate
Nitrogenous Base

 Genetic Instruction Set (DNA)

Protein Synthesis (DNA & RNA)
Energy Metabolism (ATP)

Polymers made up of individual

nucleotides
Nucleotides contain
Phosphate group
Five carbon sugar
Ring shaped nitrogen base

DNA contains information for almost

all cell activities

ATP

Role of ATP in Energy Metabolism

ATP ADP + Pi + Energy

Role of ATP in Energy

Metabolism

INQUIRY
1. Describe the difference
between saturated and
unsaturated fats.
2. Where are phospholipids
found?
3. Cholesterol is the base
molecule for what type
of lipids?
4. Name a polysaccharide
used to store energy.
5. Name the currency
molecule for all the cells
activities.