BIOMOLECUL

ES
The Chemistry Of Life
BIOSYNTHESIS
–The process of
building organic
molecules by
living organisms
is called
biosynthesis.
 Biomolecules
–Biomolecules (also
known as
macromolecules) are
organic compounds that
make up all living
organisms.
–four macromolecules are
carbohydrates, lipids,
nucleic acids, and
proteins.
CARBOHYDRATES
 CARBOHYDRATE
– A carbohydrate is a
biomolecule consisting of
carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and
oxygen (O) atoms, usually
with a hydrogen–oxygen atom
ratio of 1:2:1 (as in water) and
thus with the empirical formula
Cm(H2O)n (where m may or may
not be different from n), which
does not mean the H has
covalent bonds with O (for
example with CH2O, H has a
covalent bond with C but not
with O)
FUNCTIONS OF
CARBOHYDRATES
–one of the major functions of
carbohydrates is to provide
energy to organisms.
Monosaccharides, in particular,
are the main source of energy
for metabolism. When they are
not yet needed, they are
converted into energy-storing
polysaccharides, such as starch
in plants and glycogen in
animals.
THREE MA JOR CLASSES OF
CARBOHYDRATES
–Monosaccharides
–Disaccharides
–Polysaccharides
What are Monosaccharides?
–Monosaccharides are poly- hydroxy-
aldehydes or -ketones, generally with an
unbranched C-chain. A carbohydrate is an
organic compound with the formula
(CH2O), with n > 3.
Monosaccharides
–The monosaccharides (mono = one,
saccharide = sugar) are the basic subunits of
carbohydrates. They contain from 3 to 7
carbons and have the general formula of
(CH2O)n where n ranges from 3 to 7 (5 or 6
being the most common).
–Common monosaccharides
include: glucose, fructose, galactose,
ribose, and deoxyribose. Notice that
the name of each of these sugars ends
with the suffix -ose. This suffix, -ose,
means full, specifically, full of oxygen.
The names of most all sugars will end
with this suffix.
What are
Aldehydes?
– In aldehydes, the
carbonyl group has
one hydrogen atom
attached to it
together with either
a 2nd hydrogen
atom or a hydrogen
group
– CHO
What are Ketones?

– In ketones, the
carbonyl group has 2
hydrocarbon groups
attached to it. Ketone
does not have a
hydrogen atom
attached to the
carbonyl group.
– RC(=O)R’
– The structure of Ribose and
Deoxyribose is almost
identical, with just one
difference. Ribose sugar has a
hydroxyl (OH) group at
position 2, whereas
deoxyribose sugar has a
hydrogen (H) atom at
position 2. Due to this,
deoxyribose sugar is more
stable than ribose sugar.
Disaccharides
– Disaccharides (di- = “two”) form when two
monosaccharides undergo a dehydration reaction
(also known as a condensation reaction or
dehydration synthesis). During this process, the
hydroxyl group of one monosaccharide combines
with the hydrogen of another monosaccharide,
releasing a molecule of water and forming a
covalent bond.
Disaccharides
–A disaccharide (also called a double sugar )
is the sugar formed when two
monosaccharides (simple sugars) are joined
by glycosidic linkage.
– Three common examples are sucrose, lactose, and
maltose.
Polysaccharides

–polysaccharides are major classes of

biomolecules. They are long chains of
carbohydrate molecules, composed of
several smaller monosaccharides.
Glycogen

– It is the main storage

carbohydrate in animals and
fungi.
– Glycogen is also known as
animal starch. It is stored in
the liver, muscle and brain.
Starch
– Starch is the main
storage carbohydrate
of plants.
– Starch is the main
dietary energy source
for humans. It is
present in most
cereals, roots, tubers
and also in some
vegetables.
Cellulose

– Cellulose is the main

structural component of the
plant cell wall. It is
exclusively present in plants.
– Cellulose is the most
abundant organic compound
of the plant kingdom
– Cellulose is an important
dietary fiber in humans. It
helps in the digestion and
excretion of waste by acting
as a bulking agent for feces.
– Humans cannot digest
cellulose fibers.
– Cellulose is a major form of
energy source for animals like
cow, horse, sheep etc. who’s
gut microbiota secretes
cellulase enzymes to break
down cellulose into glucose
for energy.
Chitin
Chitin is a long-chain
polymer of a derivative
of glucose. It is found
in many living things.
For example, it is a
component of the cell
walls of fungi, the
exoskeletons of
arthropods such as
crustaceans and insects