1. Because carbon contains 4 electrons in its outer shell, it can pair in many ways with many different atoms in an “attempt” to fill its outer shell. Carbon is the central atom of life.

2. Molecules of Life Start with water, add lots of small carbon-containing molecules and … How do you build a cell? use these four major classes of biological molecules.

3. Monomers, Polymers and Macromolecules Many biological molecules are macromolecules – very large. Biological macromolecules are formed by linking together a set of building blocks (monomers) into long chains (a polymer).

4. Carbohydrates Carbohydrates are used for immediate energy and to create structures. The building blocks for carbohydrates are simple sugars. Three views of glucose, a common simple sugar.

5. Linking Simple Sugars – the First Step to a Polymer A complex carbohydrate is a long-chain polymer made of simple sugars. monosaccharidesa disaccharide Larger molecules form by a process called dehydration synthesis.

6. Some Familiar and Important Complex Carbohydrates Note the way complex macromolecules are built by linking simple repeating units.

7. Carbohydrates are Central Players in Energy Production and Storage

8. Complex Carbohydrates Are Often Used to Create Structures Cellulose is the most abundant macromolecule on earth – and you’re probably wearing it now.

9. Lipids are Hydrophobic Molecules That Exist In Three Primary Forms Sterol Fat Phospholipid

10. Fats Are Made By Linking 3 Fatty Acid Chains to Glycerol, a Three Carbon Molecule Space-filling model of a fat A fatty acid

11. Molecular Structure of a Fat

12. Fats are Used in Energy Storage and Production

13. The Degree Of Saturation In A Fat Affects Its Physical And Health Properties Where are the double bonds?

14. Cis and Trans Unsaturated Fats all cis polyunsaturated “ Good ” Omega-3- fatty acids mono- and poly- unsaturated saturated trans “Bad”

15. At a Store Near You Beginning January 1, 2006, the FDA required that the amount of trans fat be listed on all food labels. The new line showing levels of trans fat

16. Sterols Note the four ring structure common to all sterols. Sterols are: 1) essential membrane components and 2) form many hormones.

17. Sterols As Hormones Estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, and corticosteriods (cortisol) are all steroid hormones.

18. Sterols As Hormones “Designer steroids” are major sporting news where they have been used illegally in track and field, baseball, football and countless other sports. A heavily muscled Linford Christie who was disqualified from international competition after testing positive for a banned steroid.

19. Phospholipids are Building Blocks of Cellular Membranes The hydrophilic (water-loving) head group and hydrophobic (water- fearing) tails are the keys to phospholipid function.

20. Hydrophilic Head Group And Hydrophobic Tails Are The Keys To Phospholipid Function

21. Phospholipids Form Double-Layered Biological Membranes

22. Protein Proteins are key elements of life. Remember the principle - structure determines function. Since proteins are the key players of the cell, it follows that protein structure determines cell function.

23. Some of the Many Different Functions of Proteins

24. Strands of the Protein Keratin Create Hair

25. Proteins are Linear Chains of Linked Amino Acids

26. A Common Thread and a Unique Identity

27. Amino Acids, Peptide Bonds, Polypeptide = Protein Peptide bonds Proteins are linear chains of 20 different building blocks called amino acids. Amino acids are linked by peptide bonds – a form of covalent bond.

28. Proteins are folded structures whose shape (and therefore function) depends on amino acid sequence.

29. Nucleic Acids There are two kinds of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA. Both are involved in the storage and flow of information from gene to gene product. DNA Recently, we’ve learned that RNA also plays important regulatory roles.

30. Nucleotides Are the Monomers That Create Polymers of DNA and RNA