INTRODUCTION TO

BIOCHEMISTRY!

All LIVING things are mostly made of 4 types of

molecules called BIOMOLECULES.

BIOMOLECULES are very large molecules of many ATOMS covalently bonded together All BIOMOLECULES

contain CARBON (C)

4 categories of BIOMOLECULESproteins

carbohydrates

lipids

nucleic acids

ENERGY is stored in the COVALENT BONDS of these large molecules. When we eat, we get energy to live as chemical reactions within our bodies break these bonds.

Our bodies can then use the parts of these large molecules to build new molecules that build our bodies.

PROTEINS• Build muscle, bone, structural support of the cell, etc.

• Function as enzymes to speed chemical reactions within the body

• Function as pigments and steroid hormonesMade of

many AMINO ACIDS bonded together in a long chain.

C, H, O, N

MONOMER POLYMER CELL STRUCTURE

amino acid protein chainmuscle fiber

PROTEIN

CARBOHYDRATES

• Store ENERGY

•Provide some structure

Made of many SUGARS bonded together in a LONG CHAIN

Composed of C, H, and O

Single sugar molecule

MONOMER POLYMERCELL STUCTURE

sugar starch starch grains in chloroplasts

CARBOHYDRATE

LIPIDS

• Store ENERGY

• Form cell membranes

• Act as chemical messengers (steroid hormones)

Composed of C, H, and O

A GLYCEROL with 3 FATTY ACID CHAINS

Can be SATURATED or UNSATURATED depending on type of BONDS

fatty acid fat molecule adipose (fat) cells

SUBUNIT MOLECULE CELL STRUCTURE

LIPID

NUCLEIC ACIDS• Store genetic information

• Direct the production of PROTEINS

Composed of C, H, N, O, P

Made of many NUCLEOTIDES bonded together in a long chain

MONOMER POLYMER CELL STRUCTURE

Nucleotide DNA strandchromosome

NUCLEIC ACID