An Introduction to Organic Molecules

Organic Molecules Organic molecules are made primarily of four elements : C, N, O, H Backbone is C Polymers are built of small units called monomers.

Monomers and Polymers Nucleic acidNucleotide ProteinAmino acid Lipids(Fatty acids)+glycerol PolysaccharideMonosaccharide PolymersMonomers

Monomers Build Polymers  Polymers are built through a process called dehydration synthesis.

Dehydration Synthesis builds POLYMERS

Breaking Down Polymers Polymers are broken down through a process called hydrolysis.

Hydrolysis breaks down POLYMERS

The FOUR major organic compounds (polymers):  Carbohydrates  Lipids  Proteins  Nucleic Acids

Carbohydrates - all types of sugars

Monosaccharides : Simple Sugars All monosaccharides have the basic chemical formula CH 2 O Function: Immediate Energy!!!

Common sugars are glucose, fructose and galactose.

Disaccharides : Double Sugars  All disaccharides are made of 2 monosaccharides linked together  Function: Energy

Polysaccharides : Complex sugars (aka. Complex carbs) All polysaccharides are built of monosaccharidesAll polysaccharides are built of monosaccharides Two functions of polysaccharides are storage and structure.Two functions of polysaccharides are storage and structure.

Energy Storage Polysaccharides Starch: plant Glycogen : animals

Structural Polysaccharides Cellulose : plants Chitin: animals (invertebrates)

Review of Carbohydrates Monomers : Polymers: Structure: Functions:

Proteins

Proteins - chains of amino acids Proteins make up 50% of the dry weight of most cells (that’s a LOT!!) Proteins build structure and carry out cell metabolism Proteins are built of amino acids. There are 20 types of amino acids.

Amino Acids are bonded together with PEPTIDE bonds.

Four levels of Protein Structure Stucture and function are related!!

Types of Proteins Structural Storage Transport Hormonal Contractile Antibodies Enzymes

Structural : elastin, collagen, keratin

Storage : ovalbumin & casein

Transport : hemoglobin & membrane proteins

Hormonal : insulin & growth hormones

Contractile : actin & myosin

Antibodies : IgE, IgA, IgG Add to table

Enzymes: amylase & protease

Review of Proteins Monomers : Polymers: Structure : Functions :

LIPIDS Polymers that don’t mix with water! This means they are hydrophobic. Groups are FATS, PHOSPHOLIPIDS & STEROIDS

Fats = 1 Glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids Fats are large molecules made of 2 monomers : glycerol + fatty acids. There are two types of fatty acids - saturated and unsaturated. Functions of fats include : insulation, energy storage, shock absorber for internal organs (like bubble wrap!)

Saturated Fatty Acids  Characteristics:  Solid at room temperature (can pack together tightly)  Mostly found in animals  No double bonds between Carbons (filled with Hydrogens)  Examples :

Unsaturated Fatty Acids Characteristics Characteristics Liquid at room temperature (can’t pack together tightly) Found mostly in plants Double bonds found between Carbons (not filled with Hydrogens) Examples :

Phospholipids = 2 Fatty Acids + Phosphate Where do you find phospholipids in a cell??? Phospholipids have polar (charged) & nonpolar (not charged) ends. The phosphate end is HYDROPHILIC. The fatty acid end is HYDROPHOBIC. The unique structure (polar & nonpolar) contributes to the function of these molecules in the cell.

Steroids = Carbon skeleton with 4 fused rings Steroids are a natural and important components of the cell membrane in many organisms. An example is cholesterol - found ONLY in animal tissues. It is used to help construct other important hormones in organisms. not just anabolic steroids!!

Steroids (continued) Examples of hormones created using steroids are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. Anabolic steroids are a synthetic form of testosterone to increase muscle mass. Both men and women who take testosterone increase the masculine physical features normally triggered by varied levels of testosterone in the body.

Review of Lipids Monomers of FATS: Functions of fats: Monomers of PHOSPHOLIPIDS: Functions of phospholipids: Structure and function of steroids:

Nucleic Acids: the polymers built of nucleotides DNA RNA

Nucleotides - the building blocks of nucleic acids

DNA - deoxyribonucleic acid Characteristics –Double helix –Four nitrogenous bases : A, T, C, G –Deoxyribose sugar (5-carbon sugar) –Function : storage of genetic codes

RNA - ribonucleic acid Characteristics –Single stranded –Four nitrogenous bases - A, U, C, G –Ribose sugar (5-carbon sugar) –Function : transcribe and translate DNA into proteins

Review of Nucleic Acids Monomers : Polymers : Structures: Functions :