2. What is Biochemistry?
Biochemistry is the study of the chemical interactions of living things.
Biochemists study the structures and physical properties of biological molecules.
Often are involved in the manufacture of new drugs and medical treatments

3. Elements in Living Organisms
The most common elements found in living organisms include:
Carbon (C)
Oxygen (O)
Nitrogen (N)
Hydrogen (H)
Phosphorus (P)
Sulfur (S)

4. Periodic Table of the Elements (excerpt)

5. Macromolecules of Cells
Macro = large
4 types of macromolecules in cellular biology
1. Carbohydrates
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids

6. Macromolecule #1: Carbohydrates
Sugars and groups of sugars
Purposes: energy and structure
Includes three types:
Monosaccharide (1 sugar – quick energy)
Disaccharide (2 sugars – short storage)
Polysaccharide (many sugars – energy long storage & form structures)

7. Macromolecule #1: Carbohydrates
Polysaccharide Examples:
Glycogen—glucose polymer stored for future energy needs. Found in liver, muscle and sperm, etc.
Cellulose—glucose polymer used to form fibers for plant structures. Humans can’t digest (fiber). Most abundant organic molecule.
Chitin—glucose polymer for exoskeletons of some crustaceans & insects.

8. Polysaccharides

9. Polysaccharides

10. Macromolecule #2: Lipids
Insoluble in water (think oil & water)
4 types:
1-triglycerides (fats & oils)
(long-term energy storage, insulation)
2-phospholipids (primary component of cell membrane)
3-steroids (cell signaling)
cholesterol molecules modified to form sex hormones. (e.g. testosterone, estrogen, etc.)
4-waxes (protection, prevents water loss)
Used mainly by plants, but also bees, some furry animals and humans.

11. Triglycerides

12. Phospholipids

13. Steroids

14. Waxes

15. Macromolecule #3: Proteins
Probably the most complicated of all biological molecules.
Serve the most varied purposes, including:
Support
structural proteins (e.g., keratin, collagen)
Enzymes
speed up chemical reactions
Transport
cell membranes channels, transporters in blood
(e.g., Hemoglobin)
Defense
antibodies of the immune system
Hormones
cell signaling (e.g., insulin)
Motion
contractile proteins (e.g., actin, myosin)

16. Collagen

17. Antibodies

18. Cellular Transport

19. actin & myosin fibers in muscles
Motion
actin & myosin fibers in muscles

20. Macromolecule #3: Proteins
The building blocks of proteins are AMINO ACIDS. There are only 20 types of Amino Acids.
There are millions of different proteins, and they are all built from different combinations of the 20 amino acids.
Amino acids join together to form peptides, polypeptides, and polypeptide chains.

21. Macromolecule #4: Nucleic Acids
Nucleotides: building blocks of nucleic acids.
Each nucleotide contains
(a) phosphate molecule,
(b) nitrogenous base, and
(c) 5-carbon sugar
Several types of nucleic acids, including:
DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid
Genetic material, double stranded helix
RNA: ribonucleic acid
Genetic material, single stranded
ATP: adenosine triphosphate
High energy compound

22. DNA

23. Nucleotide Structure

24. Polymers ands Monomers
Each of these types of molecules are polymers that are assembled from single units called monomers.
Each type of macromolecule is an assemblage of a different type of monomer.

25. Monomers Macromolecule Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic acids
Monosaccharide
Not always polymers; Hydrocarbon chains
Amino acids
Nucleotides

26. How do monomers form polymers?
In condensation reactions (also called dehydration synthesis), a molecule of water is removed from two monomers as they are connected together.

28. Hydrolysis
In a reaction opposite to condensation, a water molecule can be added (along with the use of an enzyme) to split a polymer in two.