The Building Blocks of Life Organic Chemistry The Building Blocks of Life

Organic Chemistry The study of organic compounds Any compound containing Carbon Carbon is essential for life Has 4 valence electrons Can form 4 covalent bonds with other atoms Can form chains, branched chains or rings

Macromolecules Macromolecules: large molecules formed from smaller ones 4 major types: Carbohydrates, Lipids, proteins, Nucleic Acids Polymers versus monomers Monomers are the smaller building blocks of polymers Monomers are linked using covalent bonds

Carbohydrates (-ose) Chemical composition: Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen Always in a ratio of 1:2:1 (C6H12O6) Types: Monosaccharides: have 3-7 Carbons simple sugar Examples: Glucose, fructose, galactose Disaccharides: two monosaccharides joined together Examples: sucrose, lactose Polysaccharides: long chains of monosaccharides Examples: Glycogen: energy storage in animals Cellulose: cell wall in plants Chitin: makes up exoskeletons of insects and fungus cell walls Purpose in organisms: quick energy source and gives structural support

Carbohydrates

Lipids Chemical Composition: Elements: Carbon and Hydrogen Monomers: fatty acids, and glycerols Types: (fats, oils, and waxes) Triglyceride: stored in fat cells of animals Waxes: coat plant leaves to prevent water loss Phospholipids: makes up the cell membrane Steroids: includes cholesterol and hormones Purpose in organisms: stores energy, creates barriers (cell membrane is a phospholipid bilayer), insulation

Triglyceride

Phospholipid

Proteins Chemical composition: Elements: Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Hydrogen, and sometimes Sulfur Monomer: amino acids There are 20 different types They’re connected with peptide bonds to create long chains of proteins The order of this protein chain is coded for by DNA 70% of the structures in the body are made of proteins Purpose in organisms: structural support, transports materials, speeds up chemical reactions (enzymes), controls cell growth Examples: insulin, hemoglobin

Amino acids and peptide bonds

Nucleic Acids Chemical Composition: Elements: Carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and Hydrogen Monomer: nucleotide Made up of: phosphate group, nitrogenous base, and a sugar Types: DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) RNA (ribonucleic acid) Purpose in Organisms: stores and communicates genetic information

Nucleotide and DNA