1. Organic Compounds The Big Four
Objectives:
- Highlight the similarities between protein, nucleic acid, lipids and carbohydrates
- Examine amino acid structure and amino acid chains
- Determine the function and shape of proteins and why they are Mr. Swift’s favourite.

2. What are the Big Four?
The big four refer to the four organic compounds found in living things. They include:
Proteins
Nucleic Acids
Lipids
Carbohydrates

3. Similarities in the Big Four
They all have carbon as their core structure
Contain hydrogen, oxygen and several other atoms.
They are called macromolecules (means giant molecules) and are made from thousands of smaller molecules.
The smaller units are called monomers and they join together to form polymers.

4. Polymer Monomer Protein Nucleic Acids Lipids Carbohydrates Amino acids
Nucleotides
Glycerol and Fatty Acids
Glucose

5. Proteins Proteins have amino acids as their basic structure
Only 20 amino acids
Amino acids are all similar in structure. They all have:
Central carbon atom
Carboxylic acid group
Amine group
Single hydrogen atom
R group
An R group is an arrangement of different atoms

6. Proteins
Drawing an Amino Acid

7. Proteins
Glycine

8. Proteins
Circle the two you want to memorize
Star methionine

9. Dehydration Synthesis
Proteins
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration refers to a loss of water
When one amino acid joins to another, the carboxyl group of the first bonds to the amine group of the second.
This produces a peptide bond.
Water is released in this process.

10. Proteins
Glycine + Glycine → Gly-Gly + H2O The reverse of this reaction is called hydrolysis

11. Proteins
Draw the dehydration synthesis of 2 alanine molecules.

12. Proteins 2 amino acids are a dipeptide molecule.
More than 2 amino acids are a polypeptide
More than 200 amino acids are a protein.

13. Proteins
Draw the dehydration synthesis of an alanine and a glycine molecule.

14. Functions of Proteins Structural molecule Enzymes Hormones Antibodies
Passive and active channels in the plasma membrane

15. Protein Shapes
Primary (Linear) – the sequence of amino acids are in a protein chain.

16. Protein Shapes
Secondary (folded or helical) – the amino acids in the chain are twisted or folded upon themselves.

17. Protein Shapes
Tertiary (3D shape) – the chain itself is folded because of the interactions between the amino acids with large R groups.

18. Protein Shapes
Quarternary – multiple polypeptides all with a 3D shape.

19. Protein Video

20. Activity Building a quaternary protein structure
Notice that if you press or stretch your protein gently it springs back into place. Proteins are somewhat flexible
If you stretch or press it harder the protein losses its shape and is unable to return to it’s original configuration. This can happen to a protein that had been altered by heat or chemical denaturation.

21. Review All organic compounds have __________ as their core element.
Large molecules made up of repeating units are called __________.
The building blocks of organic compounds are called __________.
All 20 amino acids have the same structural blueprint; a central __________, an __________ group, a __________ acid group, a single ___________ and an _____________.
The simplest amino acid is called ___________.
Amino acids link together in a process called ________________.
Amino acids are linked by a special covalent bond called a ____________.
The first amino acid set down in every protein is _____________.
Five important functions of my favorite organic compound are _____________, _________________, ________________, ________________, and ______________________________.
Protein are found in 4 shapes: ________________, ___________________, ______________________ and _____________________.

22. Review All organic compounds have Carbon as their core element.
Large molecules made up of repeating units are called Polymers.
The building blocks of organic compounds are called Monomers.
All 20 amino acids have the same structural blueprint; a central Carbon, an Amine group, a Carboxyl acid group, a single Hydrogen and an R-group.
The simplest amino acid is called Glycine.
Amino acids link together in a process called Dehydration Synthesis.
Amino acids are linked by a special covalent bond called a Peptide.
The first amino acid set down in every protein is Methionine.
Five important functions of my favorite organic compound are Structural, Hormones, Enzymes, Antibodies and Carrier Protein.
Protein are found in 4 shapes: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary.

23. Factors that Alter the Shape of Protein
Temperature - Protein Structure
Changes in pH – page 51 in your book
Denaturation – temporary change in shape
Coagulation – permanent change in shape

24. Page 51 in the Text book 1. What variable is plotted on the x-axis?
Time in seconds
What variable is plotted on the y-axis?
Pressure of oxygen in kPa
2. How did the rate of reaction change over time in the control reaction?
The rate was very rapid and then levelled off
3. Suggest an explanation for the change in the control at about 40 seconds.
The hydrogen peroxide was used up

25. Page 51 in the Text book
4. What effect do acids and bases have on the enzyme catalase?
The base makes it less effective and the acid deactivates it so the reaction cannot take place
5. Would it be valid to conclude that if a base were added to a reaction the rate of the reaction would slow down?
The blue line shows that the pressure of oxygen was lower when the base was added, so yes, this would be a valid conclusion
6. Predict what would happen if vinegar were added to a solution of hydrogen peroxide and catalase.
Since vinegar is an acid, it would most likely make the reaction not take place.

26. Proteins as Enzymes
Enzymes are proteins that act as biological catalysts
Catalysts are substances that speed up the chemical reaction in cells
In chemical reactions the elements or compounds entering into the reaction are called the reactants, the elements or compounds produced by the reaction are called the products.

27. Proteins as Enzymes
Only function in one chemical reaction – specificity (lock and key principle)
Are unaffected by the reaction, so they can be used over again.
If the shape of the enzyme changes, the enzyme can’t do it’s job.
Reduce the activation energy needed to start the reaction

28. Catabolic Reactions

29. Anabolic Reactions

30. Enzymes

31. Review The big four Monomers and polymers
All organic compounds have carbon as their core structure
Parts of an amino acid
Dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis
Functions of proteins
Shapes of proteins

32. Review Denaturation and coagulation
Factors that alter the shape of proteins
Reactants and products
Specificity
Catabolic and anabolic

33. Objectives
- Highlight the similarities between protein, nucleic acid, lipids and carbohydrates
- Examine amino acid structure and amino acid chains
- Determine the function and shape of proteins and why they are Mr. Swift’s favourite.