Understanding the 4 major types of ORGANIC Compounds Mrs. Lambert’s Biology Class

Organic Biomolecules Four main categories: CARBOHYDRATES LIPIDS PROTEINS NUCLEIC ACIDS Organic Compounds come from all living things and are sometimes also referred as biochemical compounds. Organic compounds have carbon atoms, which are covalently bound to other elements. Covalent bonds = bonds nonmetals to nonmetals Ionic bonds= bonds metals to nonmetals

Carbohydrates Carbohydrates: organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio. Key source of energy (found in most foods) Building blocks= monosaccharides –simple sugars Prefix -“mono-” means one, “di”= two and “poly-” many The root word saccharide means sugar. –Monosaccharide: Glucose- C 6 H 12 O 6 –Disaccharide: Sucrose= common table sugar (Sucrose = fructose + glucose) Polysaccharide: 3 or more sugars Examples:Starches- polysaccharides made by plants Glycogen- is made by animals Cellulose- provides structural support by plants (Humans can’t digest cellulose, so don’t gnaw on a wooden table.)

Lipids Nonpolar molecules which are not soluble in water Examples: Fats, phospholipids, steroids, waxes Phospholipids: Lipids are important for building cell membranes Steroids: examples: –cholesterol which is found in animal membranes – chlorophyll - the light absorbing pigment in of plant cells. (in the chloroplast of plant cells.)

Lipids cont. Fats: stores energy –Saturated fatty acids: all carbon atoms in the chain bound to two Hydrogen molecules, Straight and solid at room temperature. * animal fats * examples: butter, lard, grease, etc. - Unsaturated fatty acids: some have double bonds, which cause “kinks” in the molecule therefore the molecule can’t pack closely together, thus it is liquid at room temp. *Mostly from plants *Examples: Plant oils (olive oil), fish oils, Some veg. oils have been “hydrogenated” so that they are solid at room temperature, like veg. shortening, margarine, etc.

Lipids cont… Cholesterol- –LDL cholesterol: considered the “bad” cholesterol. Leads to arthrosclerosis, which is the buildup of fatty acids inside artery walls. –HDL cholesterol: considered the “good” cholesterol. Helps the body produce lipid-based molecules like steroid hormones

Proteins Proteins- usually a large molecule formed by linked amino acids Building blocks: Amino acids (20 in all) Protein folding all depends upon the interaction between water molecules and the amino acids within the molecule All genes code for a type of protein

Protein synthesis Gene (section of DNA) is copied into mRNA in the nucleus The mRNA template leaves the nucleus through nuclear pores and begins protein synthesis in the rough ER Then it goes through the smooth ER and hops onto a little bus (vacuoles) to the golgi apparatus where it is packaged and distributed to the proper sites within or outside the cell

Proteins cont… Types of Proteins: Enzymes: promote chemical reactions –All enzymes end in “-ase” Structural proteins: like collagen- found in the skin, hair, ligaments/tendons, bones, and aids in forming blood clots. Antibodies- defends the body against infections Other proteins are specialized- –Ex. Used for muscle contraction –Make Hemoglobin which caries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues

Nucleic acids Nucleic acids: exists in all cells –Building blocks for both DNA and RNA –Nucleotide= basic unit consisting of a phosphate, sugar and nitrogenous base. (1/2 of a step on the DNA ladder) –DNA: “deoxyribonucleic acid” serves as the blueprint for all cellular activities Chromatin material: DNA’s form in a non-dividing cell Chromosomes: DNA’s condensed, linear form it takes during mitosis Is a double helix with the bases, Adenine, Guanine, Cytosine and Thymine

RNA: “ribonucleic acid” –Single stranded –Key roles in protein synthesis –Acts as an enzyme to link amino acids ATP: Adenosine “uh-DEHN-un-seen” triphosphate –1 nucleotide with two extra energy storing phosphate grops –Food is broken down in cells and the energy is stored as ATP

Nucleic acids continued… Is there an unlimited supply of ATP? Used ATP  ADP but adenosine diphosphate can change back into ATP if you add a phosphate group to it.