1. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT! BIOCHEMISTRY UNIT Chapter 2, Sections 3 & 4
Pages 44-48, 51-53
Mr. Del Rossi 2010

2. What is an Organic Compound?
Anything that contains the following two elements:
Carbon & Hydrogen

3. I. The Role of Carbon A. Carbon can bond with numerous other elements
1. Carbon has 4 free e- in it’s outer energy
level
2. It has the ability to form up to covalent bonds
Types of Bonds
(When 2 Carbon atoms bond)
1. Single – each carbon shares only 1 e-.
2. Double – each carbon shares 2 e-.
3. Triple – each carbon shares 3 e-.

4. II. Building Organic Molecules
A. Macromolecules
- Large molecules containing
hundreds of atoms.
- Can vary greatly in size.
Example: Proteins

5. B. Polymer
- Large molecules formed when many smaller molecules bond together.
- They generally form long chain-like molecules.
Example:
Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose
1. Polymers are created as well
as broken apart by two
processes!

6. a. Condensation Reactions
- Small molecules are bonded
together to make a larger one.
- Each molecule loses either a
–H or –OH group in order to
bond.
- As a result, for each bond 1
water molecule is formed.
A + B = C + H2O

8. b. Hydrolysis Reactions
- Refers to the breaking apart of a polymer.
- Occurs during the digestion
of food molecules!
C + H2O = A + B

10. III. MACROMOLECULES A. Carbohydrates 1. AKA – Sugars, starches,
fiber, grains, & roughage.
2. Jobs & Function: Are used by the cell to store & release energy.
3. Elements Present: Carbon,
Hydrogen, and Oxygen
a. Ratio - 1C : 2H : 1O

11. 4. Building Blocks a. Monosaccharides (Simple Sugars)
- 1 sugar molecule
Examples:Glucose and Fructose
b. Disaccharides
- 2 monosaccharides combined
Example: Sucrose (Table Sugar)
(Glucose and Fructose
combined via a “ ? “
reaction.)
c. Polysaccharides – 3 or more
monosaccharides combined
Examples:
Starch (plant food storage),
Cellulose (in plant cell walls), and Glycogen (animal food storage).

12. B. Lipids 2. Jobs & Function: 1. Major part of cell membranes
1. AKA – Fats & Oils
2. Jobs & Function:
1. Major part of cell membranes
2. Long-term energy storage
3. Insulation.
3. Organic compounds composed of the elements:
Carbon, Hydrogen, & Oxygen
a. ratio of C : H : O 1:2:~0.
4. Building Blocks
- 3 Fatty acids & 1 Glycerol

13. - Solid at room temperature - All single bonds between carbons!
Examples:
a. Saturated Fats
- Solid at room temperature
- All single bonds between carbons!
Examples are: Butter & Lard
b. Unsaturated Fats
- room temperature
- One or more double bonds between carbons!
- Oils (vegetable, olive, corn sesame, etc….)

14. Unsaturated vs. Polyunsaturated

15. 6. Cholesterol
a. Soft waxy substance found in your
bloodstream with lipids.
b. Used to form cell membranes, some hormones, and is needed for other cell functions.
c. Lipoproteins
1. Transport cholesterol to & from cells.
a. LDL (Low-Density-Lipoprotein)
“Bad Cholesterol”
1. Carries cholesterol in the blood. Too much can form plaque in arteries.
b. HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) “Good Cholesterol”
1. Takes cholesterol out of blood and back to liver.

16. 7. TransFats (Hydrogenated Oils)
a. Made by “hydrogenating” oils to
make them solid.
b. Hydrogenating means
“adding hydrogen.”
c. When consumed, increases
your LDL concentration.

17. C. Proteins 1. Large polymer composed of: C, H, O, N, and S.
2. Essential for all life.
3. Building Blocks
a. Proteins are made of amino
acids (20 Types of A.A.’s)
1. Amino Acids are
linked together by
condensation reactions.

18. 4. Jobs & Functions a. Makes up fibers of Muscles
b. Make-up antibodies
c. Make-up Enzymes
(Enzymes allow reactions to occur)
d. Used as messengers (transport
oxygen in bloodstream)
5. Examples:
Antibodies, Enzymes, Hair, Muscles,
& “Some” Vitamins

19. Amino Acid Structure Parts: (Page 47 in textbook) 1. Amino Group
2. Carboxyl Group
3. Functional Group (R-Group)

20. Linking Amino Acids:

21. D. Nucleic Acids 1. Definition - A complex macromolecule that
stores information in the form of a code.
2. Building Blocks
- Made up of smaller subunits called nucleotides.
3. Elements Present
- Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen,
Nitrogen, and Phosphorus.

22. 4. Jobs & Functions
a. Contain Hereditary Information
b. Contain instructions on how to
make proteins.
5. Examples
a. DNA – The master copy of an organism’s information code.
b. RNA – Codes for a copy of DNA used in protein synthesis.

23. Macromolecule Flip Chart
Make a flip chart for the 4 macromolecules.
For each macromolecule provide:
Elements found in molecule
Subunits that make it up
Job/Function
2 examples
Picture of molecule
Visual to help you remember