1. The Chemical Building Blocks of Life
Biomolecules
The Chemical Building Blocks of Life

2. The Chemistry of Carbon
Organic molecules contain carbon
Carbon’s four valence electrons allow it to form up to four covalent bonds
Hydrocarbons consist only of C and H
Propane CH8
It can easily bond to itself and form long chains
Linear - Cyclic - Branched

3. Functional Groups
Chemical properties and reactivity are a result of functional groups
Functional groups maintain chemical properties no matter where they occur
Polar molecules are hydrophilic
Nonpolar molecules are hydrophobic
The degree to which organic molecules interact with water affects their function
Hydroxyl group (-OH) is one of the most common functional groups, it will make a molecule water soluble

4. Macromolecules – The Sum of the Parts
Many complex biological activities require large macromolecules
Macromolecules are polymers built by linking together small subunits called monomers
Proteins are polymers of amino acids
Nucleic acids are polymers of nucleotides
Starches are polymers of simple sugars

5. Condensation It’s not just for the water cycle anymore
Macromolecules are constructed by covalently bonding monomers by condensation reactions where water is removed from the functional groups of the monomers
Dehydration synthesis (water is removed)
A hydroxyl (-OH) from one monomer and a hydrogen (-H) from another are removed
Anabolic reaction

6. Hydrolysis Hydrolysis is the reverse of condensation
Results in the break down of polymers
Hydration reactions add water and break bonds releasing energy

7. Macromolecules Perform complex tasks with precision
Basic structure and function of each family similar in all organisms (bacteria – humans)

8. Families of Biomolecules
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

9. Basic Function Carbo’s Lipids N. Acids Proteins Energy Storage
Structure
Long term storage
Insulation
Protection
Inheritance
Blueprint for metabolism
Catalysts
Hormones
Starch
Glycogen
Glucose
Sucrose
Cellulose
Lipid
Fats
Oils
Waxes
DNA
RNA
ATP
Enzymes

10. Carbohydrates How Sweet It Is!
General formula (CH2O)n
Simple sugars or large molecules made of sugar monomers
Monosaccharides (monomer) are covalently linked by condensation reaction to form polysaccharides (polymers)

11. Sugars Monosaccharides Five carbon: Ribose
Six carbon: glucose and fructose
Disaccharides
Sucrose
Lactose
Polysaccharides
Starch
Cellulose
Glycogen

12. Polysaccharides Three Types
Glycogen – animal storage product that accumulates in the liver
- Highly branched
GlucoseGlycogenglucosebloodstream
Starch – plant energy storage
- Helical
- Easily digested by animals through hydrolysis

13. Cellulose Polysaccharide found in plant cell walls
For humans cellulose is indigestible and forms dietary fiber
Made up entirely of β glucoses
Structure is constrained into straight microfibrils
Not an energy source for animals
Chitin – insect exoskeletons

14. Lipids Long-term energy storage Generally insoluble in water
Structural components of cells (phospholipids)
Cellular messengers (hormones)

15. More FAT
Triglycerides are composed of three fatty acids covalently bonded to one glycerol molecule
Fatty acids are composed of CH2 units and are hydrophobic
Fatty acids can be saturated (all single bonds) or unsaturated (one or more double bonds)
A fat (mostly saturated) is solid at room temp. while an oil (mostly unsaturated) is liquid at room temp.

16. Phospholipids This allows the phospholipids to
Important structural component of cell memranes
Phosphate group (head) is polar and water soluble (hydrophilic)
Fatty acid tails are hydrophobic
This allows the phospholipids to
form bilayers and membranes

17. Other Lipids Steroids Cholesterol Hormones Waxes Insoluble in water
Built around a four ringed skeleton
Cholesterol
Component for animal cell membranes
Formation of myelin sheath covering nerves
Hormones
Chemical messengers
Waxes
Many fatty acids linked to a long backbone
Waterproofing in plants, ears, beehives

18. Proteins 50% dry weight of body Mammal cell contains 10,000 proteins
Control elements (enzymes)
Organic catalysts
Mediators of metabolism
Direct development, maintenance, and growth
Structural elements (cell membrane, muscles, ligaments, hair, fingernails)
Regulate what goes into/out of cells

19. Building Blocks of Proteins Amino Acids
Amino acids (monomers) are linked together to form proteins (polymers)
Each unique sequence of amino acids forms a different protein
All living things (even viruses) use the same 20 amino acids
20 different Amino Acids
Amino end (NH2)
Carboxyl end (COOH)
Hydrogen
R group – variable component

20. Amino Acids Positively charged side chain
Amino Acids are grouped by whether R- group is polar or non-polar
Positively charged side chain
Negatively charged side chains
Polar but uncharged side chains
Hydrophobic side chains
Special cases

21. Protein Assembly
AA’s are linked together by joining the amino end of one molecule to the carboxyl end of another
Peptide bond forms a chain called a polypeptide
Transcription in nucleus
DNA code  mRNA
Translation on ribosomes
mRNA  protein

22. Protein Structure Tertiary structure
shape of entire chain; folded, twisted, or
globular
shape related to function and properties
Quaternary structure
more than one polypeptide chain
Secondary structure
the tendency of the polypeptide to coil or
pleat due to H-bonding between R- groups
-helix, -pleated sheet, or random coil
Primary structure
Specific linear sequence of AA’s in a polypeptide
Determined from code in inherited genetic material
Changes in primary structure can alter proper functioning of the protein

23. Nucleic Acids Polymers composed of monomer units known as nucleotides
Information storage
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
Protein synthesis
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
Energy transfers
ATP (adenosine tri-phosphate) and NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide)

24. Nucleotides Nucleotide structure Phosphate Nitrogenous base
Purines (double-rings)
Adenine and Guanine
Pyrimidines (single-rings)
Cytosine, Thymine, and Uracil
Sugar – either ribose or deoxyribose
pentoses in ring form
Deoxyribose lacks one oxygen

25. Functions of Nucleic Acids
DNA – Physical carrier of genetic information
Restricted to nucleus
RNA – key component of protein synthesis
Messenger RNA (mRNA) – blueprint for construction of a protein
Ribosomal RNA (rRNA) – construction site where the protein is made
Transfer RNA (tRNA) – truck delivering the proper AA to the site of construction

26. The End