BIOCHEMISTRY

Life in molecular level

BIOCHEMISTRY DEFINITION

• Explains life at the molecular level

• Explains biological forms and functions
in chemical terms
• Forms basis for studying other fields like
cell biology, genetics, medicine,
nutrition, immunology etc.
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN A
LIVING ORGANISMS
MACROMOLECULES
 Describe in detail what you see in the
diagram. (Minimum 3 sentences)

The digestive process is occurring. In

order for organisms to live and
function they require energy. Eating
and digesting food provides the body
with chemical energy in the form of
ATP.
Biomolecules
You are what you eat!
BIOMOLECULES DEFINITION

• Living matters are made out of biomolecules

• Biomolecules are made of lighter elements
• They are mostly combined with covalent
bonding
• Biomolecules are compounds of carbon
• Biomolecules have functional groups
TYPES OF BIOMOLECULES

1. Carbohydrates
2. Proteins
3. Lipids
4. Nucleic Acids
 CARBOHYDRATES
1. Carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates aka…

Sugar

Starch
Carbs
How does our body break
down this bread?
 Breaks down into
microscopic molecules

Loaf of bread Bread crumbs

Polysaccharide

Monosaccharide Disaccharide
 Structure

Sugar
Many

Polysaccharide
 Structure
Sugar
Two

Di saccharide
 Structure

Sugar
One

Monosaccharide
 Function
 Provide QUICK energy to the body!
 Challenge: Explain what you think is happening here. (at
least 3 sentences)

Loaf of bread Bread crumbs Polysaccharide

Monosaccharide Disaccharide

The diagram shows a picture of bread (starch). It also maps

out the break down of carbohydrates from their most complex
form (polysaccharide) to their least complex
(monosaccharide). This process is called hydrolysis.
 Hydrolysis
 Addition of WATER to a compound SPLITS it

disaccharide + H2O ---> monosaccharide + monosaccharide

C12H22O11 + H2O ---> C6H12O6 + C6H12O6

 Hydrolysis

A dimer such as
...can be broken apart
maltose, or any
into its constituent
other polymer...
monomers.
 Dehydration Synthesis
 Combining single compounds into a complex one by removing water

monosaccharide + monosaccharide ----> disaccharide + water

C6H12O6 + C6H12O6 ----> C12H22O11 + H2O

(Process forms disaccharides & polysaccharides)

 Monomers

Simple sugars, such as

glucose, are the
monomers of complex
carbohydrates.
 Monomers

What is similar about

these four simple
sugars?
What is different?
glucose fructose sucrose
 Cellulose
Cotton

Hemp

Linen

Rayon
Dietary
“fiber”
What do you see in the structure of cellulose that tells you that
it is a carbohydrate?

How is cellulose similar to starch?

Cellulose vs. Starch
 Chitin

Pectin
In general, how
can we describe
complex
carbohydrates?
LIPIDS
 Breaks down into
microscopic molecules
Fats, oils, waxes, steroids
 LOOK FOR THE “E”
Monomer:
3 fatty acids + glycerol
 Function
 Made mainly of carbon and hydrogen (few
oxygen)
 Fat best method of STORING
 forms cell membranes
 Insulates nerve cells (myelin)
 Insulates body (maintains homeostasis)
 Proteins aka….

Whey
Protein

Meat

Polypeptide
Peanut
butter
 Breaks down into
microscopic molecules
Polypeptide

Meat

Amino Acid
Monomer: amino acid
Polymer: polypeptide
Monomer: Amino Acids
•Contains C, H, O, N
•20 types
•Has both hydrophobic
& hydrophylic ends
•Differ in R-group
•R-group can be acidic,
basic or neutral
•Makes polypeptide then
makes proteins
 Polymer: Polypeptide
(peptide means bond)

•Formed by
dehydration
synthesis
•Sequence
determined by
DNA
•3-D and folds to
take up less space
Function of Proteins
 Provides us with building blocks
for life!
 Also regulate most functions in a
cell.
 Glycoproteins (antigens)
 Combines w/DNA to form
chromosomes
 Turns genes on and off
 Antibodies (fights disease)
Function of Proteins
 Provides structure & strength
(fibers)
 Transports molecules in &
out cells
 Hemoglobin (transports O 2)
 Enzymes (speeds up rxns)-
has –ase suffix
 Acts as hormones (insulin)-
many proteins have suffix of
-in
R-groups
determine
the
properties
of
individual
amino
acids.
 Nucleic Acids

 Contains C, H, O, N, P
 Monomer: NUCLEOTIDES
 Nucleotides consist of 3 parts:
1. 5-Carbon Sugar
2. Phosphate Group
3. Nitrogenous Base
 Nucleotide: Nitrogen Bases
 5 types
 Cytosine
 Guanine
 Adenine
 Thymine (in DNA only)

In DNA:
 Uracil (in RNA only)
In RNA:
C-G  Purines or pyrimidines
C-G
A-T
 Nucleotides:
5-carbon sugar and phosphate group
 2 types of sugars
 Ribose (in RNA only)
 Deoxyribose (in DNA

deoxyribose ribose
only)
 Phosphate group
 Contains phosphorus &
oxygen
 Polymer: polynucleotide
 Function
Polypeptide: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
 contains the genetic code
 stores
& transmit
heredity/genetic information
 foundin the nucleus
(mitochondria)
 Double stranded (double helix)
 Function
Polypeptide: RNA (ribonucleic acid)
 Carries info from DNA to
cell
 Helps in protein synthesis
 found in ribosomes &
nucleoli
 Single stranded
 Polypeptide: ATP
 Contains
adenine, ribose sugar,
3 phosphates
 Stores and releases energy
 Concept Map
Section 2-3

Carbon
Compounds
include

Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins

that consist of that consist of that consist of that consist of

Sugars and
Fats and oils Nucleotides Amino Acids
starches
which contain which contain which contain which contain

Carbon, Carbon, Carbon,hydrogen, Carbon,

hydrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen,oxygen,
oxygen oxygen phosphorus nitrogen,