1. Anatomy I - Unit 3: Basic Biochemistry

2. What is Biochemistry?
Biochemistry is the study of the chemical interactions of living things.
Biochemists study the structures and physical properties of biological molecules.
Often are involved in the manufacture of new drugs and medical treatments

3. Elements in Living Organisms
The most common elements found in living organisms include:
Carbon (C)
Oxygen (O)
Nitrogen (N)
Hydrogen (H)
Phosphorus (P)
Sulfur (S)

4. Periodic Table of the Elements (excerpt)

5. Biochemistry: where chemistry and biology meet head-on
Living things require millions of chemical reactions within the body, just to survive.
Metabolism = all the chemical reactions occurring in the body.
Organic molecules:
usually associated with living things.
always contain CARBON.
are “large” molecules, with many atoms
always have covalent bonds (share electrons)

6. Macromolecules of Cells
Macro = large
4 types of macromolecules in cellular biology
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids

7. Macromolecule #1: Carbohydrates
Sugars and groups of sugars
Purposes: energy and structure
Includes three types:
Monosaccharide (1 sugar – quick energy)
Disaccharide (2 sugars – short storage)
Polysaccharide (many sugars – energy long storage & form structures)

8. Macromolecule #1: Carbohydrates
Polysaccharide Examples:
Glycogen—glucose polymer stored for future energy needs. Found in liver, muscle and sperm, etc.
Cellulose—glucose polymer used to form fibers for plant structures. Humans can’t digest (fiber). Most abundant organic molecule.
Chitin—glucose polymer for exoskeletons of some crustaceans & insects.

9. Polysaccharides

10. Polysaccharides

11. Macromolecule #2: Lipids
Insoluble in water (think oil & water)
4 types:
1-triglycerides (fats & oils)
(long-term energy storage, insulation)
2-phospholipids (primary component of cell membrane)
3-steroids (cell signaling)
cholesterol molecules modified to form sex hormones. (e.g. testosterone, estrogen, etc.)
4-waxes (protection, prevents water loss)
Used mainly by plants, but also bees, some furry animals and humans.

12. Triglycerides

13. Phospholipids

14. Steroids

15. Waxes

16. Macromolecule #3: Proteins
Probably the most complicated of all biological molecules.
Serve the most varied purposes, including:
Support
structural proteins (e.g., keratin, collagen)
Enzymes
speed up chemical reactions
Transport
cell membranes channels, transporters in blood
(e.g., Hemoglobin)
Defense
antibodies of the immune system
Hormones
cell signaling (e.g., insulin)
Motion
contractile proteins (e.g., actin, myosin)

17. Collagen

18. Antibodies

19. Cellular Transport

20. actin & myosin fibers in muscles
Motion
actin & myosin fibers in muscles

21. Macromolecule #3: Proteins
The building blocks of proteins are AMINO ACIDS. There are only 20 types of Amino Acids.
There are millions of different proteins, and they are all built from different combinations of the 20 amino acids.
Amino acids join together to form peptides, polypeptides, and polypeptide chains.

22. Macromolecule #4: Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides: building blocks of nucleic acids.
Each nucleotide contains
(a) phosphate molecule,
(b) nitrogenous base, and
(c) 5-carbon sugar
Several types of nucleic acids, including:
DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
Genetic material, double stranded helix
RNA: ribonucleic acid
Genetic material, single stranded
ATP: adenosine triphosphate
High energy compound

23. DNA

24. Nucleotide Structure

25. THE BIG PICTURE
Chemistry is essential for life…