Scribd
Upload
1 views

Unit_1__Biochemistry_Notes

The document provides an overview of biochemistry, focusing on the structures and functions of macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. It explains the significance of carbon in organic molecules and distinguishes between organic and inorganic compounds. Additionally, it outlines the monomers and functions of each type of macromolecule, emphasizing their roles in living organisms.

Uploaded by

cindyzhoupiano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1 views

Unit_1__Biochemistry_Notes

The document provides an overview of biochemistry, focusing on the structures and functions of macromolecules such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. It explains the significance of carbon in organic molecules and distinguishes between organic and inorganic compounds. Additionally, it outlines the monomers and functions of each type of macromolecule, emphasizing their roles in living organisms.

Uploaded by

cindyzhoupiano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 26

Unit 1:

Biochemistry
Learning
Targets
❏ I can describe the structures and functions of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
and nucleic acids).
❏ I can identify the monomers for macromolecules.
❏ I can recognize common examples of macromolecules.
❏ I can recognize that all organic molecules contain carbon.
❏ I can construct a written argument that demonstrates the importance of a macromolecule to
carry out a specific cellular process that is determined by its subcomponents (monomers).
Biochemistry: the study of chemical
processes and reactions occurring in
living matter (also known as
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY because it is
carbon-based)

Organic compounds are


carbon compounds, made by
living things.
Six most common elements in living things:
C - Carbon
H - Hydrogen Water: H2O
O - Oxygen
N - Nitrogen
P - Phosphorus
S - Sulfur
Carbon is the central atom of life

Glucose
Lipid

Amino
Acid
Carbon is the central atom of life

Glucose
Lipid

Amino
Acid
Organic Molecules:
Macromolecules are built by linking a
set of building blocks (a monomer)
together into long chains (a polymer).
Monomer: basic unit that repeats over
and over in organic compounds.
Each hexagon is a monomer.
They form the polymer chain.
Monomer 🡪 Dimer 🡪 Trimer 🡪 Polymer
(use covalent bonds to join)
Four Major Classes of Biological Molecules

*Notice the Carbon (black), Hydrogen (blue/white), Oxygen (red), and Nitrogen
(blue) as the overwhelming majority of the atoms of these molecular models!
Sulfur is yellow and Phosphorous is light purple*
Homework feedback (8/7/2023):

1. What makes carbon easily bond to other


elements?
2. Why is carbon considered the ‘backbone of
life’?
3. The majority of your body (or most living
things TBH) is made up of which TWO
elements?
4. What is the major element in the solid part of
living things?
5. Who would you consider carbon’s closest
element friend?
Organic vs. Inorganic Molecules
All molecules can be classified as either organic or inorganic. Organic molecules are types of
molecules typically found in living things and molecules that came from living things. In contrast,
inorganic molecules are considered to be molecules not produced by living things. While organic
molecules are considered the molecules of life/biological molecules, inorganic molecules can still be
necessary for life. For example, water (H2O) is a molecule that is required by all living things, yet it is
considered inorganic. A straight-forward way to tell determine if a molecule is organic or inorganic is
based on the types of elements it has:

● organic molecules always contain carbon atoms (C) and hydrogen atoms (H).
● inorganic molecules can contain carbon atoms (C) and can contain hydrogen atoms (H), but
inorganic molecules will not contain both carbon atoms (C) and hydrogen atoms (H).

Inorganic molecules usually do not contain carbon atoms (C).

Organic molecules are formed only by covalent bonds, whereas inorganic molecules can be
formed by covalent bonds or ionic bonds.
Four Types/Categories
of Organic Compounds
❏ Carbohydrates
❏ Lipids
❏ Proteins
❏ Nucleic Acids
Four Types/Categories of Organic
Compounds
❖ Carbohydrates
➢ Starches and sugars
❖ Lipids
➢ Fats, oils, waxes
❖ Proteins
➢ Meats, fish, dairy, seeds/nuts, legumes
❖ Nucleic Acids
➢ DNA & RNA, and ATP
Carbohydrates (also known as Carbs)
❖ Carbohydrates- Carbo + hydrate
❖ Elements: C (Carbon), H (Hydrogen), O
(Oxygen)
❖ Monomer: Monosaccharide (simple sugar,
single carbon ring)
❖ Function: Quick energy, used after
consumption
➢ Energy can be stored if unused
➢ Animals store carbohydrate energy as
glycogen in the liver and muscles
➢ Plants store carbohydrate energy as
starch in their cells
Carbohydrates (also known as Carbs)
❖ Special characteristics of carbs:
➢ 2:1 ratio of Hydrogen to Oxygen
➢ 1:2:1 ratio of Carbon to Hydrogen to Oxygen
❖ Types of Carbohydrates:
➢ Monosaccharide
■ One sugar
■ C6H12O6
■ Glucose is an example
➢ Disaccharide
■ Two sugars
■ C12H22O11
■ Sucrose is an example
➢ Polysaccharide
■ Many sugars (3+ rings)
■ Cellulose, Starch, and Glycogen are examples
Some Familiar and Important Complex Carbohydrates

3 OR MORE REPEATING UNITS = POLYSACCHARIDE


Function- Storage and structure
Lipids

❖ Carbohydrates- Carbo + hydrate…why not?


❖ Elements: C (Carbon), H (Hydrogen), O
(Oxygen)
❖ Monomer: Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids
❖ Function: long-term energy storage,
insulation, cell membranes
➢ All cells are surrounded by a
“phospholipid bilayer” - this makes lipids
essential to all living things!
Lipids
❖ Special characteristics of lipids:
➢ Insoluble in water
➢ Triglycerides are shaped like an
elongated E
❖ Fats, oils, waxes are all lipids
❖ Lipids can be saturated or unsaturated
Proteins
❖ Carbo + hydro + nitro
❖ Elements: C (Carbon), H (Hydrogen), O
(Oxygen), N (Nitrogen)
❖ Monomer: Amino Acids
❖ Function: basic building blocks of living
material structures
➢ Hair, muscle fibers, fingernails
➢ Enzymes (speed up chemical reactions)
➢ Cell transport, growth, development
➢ Proteins are created to follow the
directions of the DNA
Proteins

❖ Proteins are formed from amino acids


❖ There are 20* different amino acids
❖ Each amino acid has several things in common
➢ Alpha carbon (𝛂-Carbon) + emotional support
hydrogen
➢ Amino group
➢ Carboxyl group
➢ R-group (side group or chain)
■ Each amino acid has a different R-
group/side group
Proteins
Proteins

❖ Proteins are synthesized from


amino acids
❖ The 20 amino acids bond
together in various
combinations (dictated by DNA)
to form different proteins
❖ Examples: skin protein, muscle
protein, blood protein, etc…
Strands of the Protein Keratin Create Hair
Proteins all have
common structures
that make them a
“protein” but they
each have a unique
identity, because of
how the amino acids
are ordered

R – Residual Group (Side chain)


*side chain changes
Amino Group – NH2
Single Hydrogen - H
Acid or Carboxyl
Group –C=O, OH
Nucleic Acids
❖ Elements: C (Carbon), H
(Hydrogen), O (Oxygen), N
(Nitrogen), P (Phosphorous)
❖ Monomer: Nucleotides
❖ Function: genetic material to store
‘code’
➢ DNA and RNA (mRNA, rRNA,
tRNA)
➢ Controls the cells activities
➢ Can be independent and function
on their own (like ATP)
Nucleic Acids
❖ Nucleic Acids are formed from nucleotides
❖ Nucleotides consist of 3 parts:
➢ Pentose sugar (5 carbon)
■ ribose/deoxyribose
➢ Phosphate group (1 or more)
➢ Nitrogenous base
■ 5 choices - adenine, thymine, guanine,
cytosine, uracil
❖ Nuclelotides bonded together form nucleic
acids (DNA & RNA), but can also function on
their own (ATP)
DNA- carries the genetic code

RNA- carries out the instructions

You might also like