Biomolecules

The Building Blocks of Life

Biomolecules are Organic Molecules

1. Molecules containing Carbon, Hydrogen,Nitrogen, and Oxygen.

2. They make up living organisms Examples:Methane (CH4) Glucose (C6H12O6) are allorganic molecules

3. Carbon is the central atom and will bondcovalently because of the 4 valence electrons(outermost shell) total of 6 electrons.

4. CHONP

Elements

Lipids - Primarily C, H and some O

Carbohydrates – C, H, O in a 1:2:1 ratio

Proteins – C, H, O, N

Nucleic Acids – C, H, O, N, P

Biomolecules

1. Basic Molecule: Proteins,Carbohydrates (sugars), Lipids (Fats),Nucleic Acid (DNA, RNA)

2. Macromolecule: Large molecules of theabove that can be broken down.• Ex. Starch into sugar / polysaccharide (starch)into monosaccharide (glucose)

Biomolecules with Examples

1. Monomers: The smaller molecules that are thebuilding blocks of macro molecules

• Carbohydrate – sugar or, monosaccharide ex.’s - glucose, galactose, fructose

• Protein – amino acids ex.’s – meat, poultry,eggs, beans, soy, nuts, ENZYMES

• Lipid – glycerol & 3 fatty acids ex.’s – fats, oils,waxes, Cell Membranes

• Nucleic acids – nucleotides ex.’s –

DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid,

RNA = ribonucleic acid

Monomers / Polymers continued

2) Polymer: a chain of monomers

• Carbohydrate – starch, glycogen,cellulose/Polysaccharides

• Lipids – none

• Proteins – protein / polypeptide chain• Nucleic Acid – DNA, RNA

Carbohydrate• Simple vs. Complexsugars

• Simple sugars:- Monosaccharide:

- “One” “Sugar”- We will focus onglucose: C6H1206- The basic/mainsource of organismenergy “quick energy”

Simple Sugars:Carbohydrates• Simple Sugars:- Disaccharide- “Two” “Sugars”

- Examples:- Table sugar: sugars=Glucose + Fructose

- Maltose=Glucose + Glucose

- Lactose=Glucose + Galactose

Complex Sugars:Polysaccharide

• “many sugars” Complex Sugar.

• Functions: Cells use them for energy andcell wall structure cellulose.

• They allow organisms to gradually useenergy since it is stored in large chains.

Complex Sugars: Polysaccharide

- Starch : has thousands of glucoses(sugars) bonded together

………Thousands

Complex Sugars:Polysaccharides

• Cellulose: Makes up the walls of plantcells. Also made from glucose.

• Ruminants (cattle, sheep) can digest bothcellulose and glucose.

• Humans can digest starch, but notcellulose

WHY??????????

Polysaccharides

• Glycogen: Animals store carbohydrates(glucose) in the form of glycogen; similarin form to starch. Why????

• This is why…- This is our reserve energy

- Stored in liver and muscles

- We do not want to lose our carbs all at once!!

Proteins

• Made of Amino AcidChains

• Amino Acids arebonded through apeptide bond

Each ball isAn AminoAcid.Bonded byPeptideBonds

There are 20Amino Acids

There are 20 different occurringamino acids

Protein Function

1. Building material: muscle, bones, hair,fingernails

2. Enzymes: Control rate of chemicalreaction in the cells and body (catalyst)

3. Immunity: make up antibodies

4. Other specific functions such asHemoglobin: carry O2 in red blood cells

5. Regulate cell processes

Examples ofProtein StructuresThe shape of proteinis important to itsfunction.

Enzyme: Quaternary Structure

Lipids (Fats)

• A commonlipid is madeof 3 fattyacids chainsconnected toa glycerol

Lipids (Fats)

• Glycerol: a type of alcohol. The backbone of Fats.

• 3 Fatty acid chains: Long chains of C & H- Saturated=as many C & H bonded aspossible, single bond, (Solid at Room Temp.)

- Unsaturated= C and C bonds, must have atleast one double bond (usually Liquid atRoom Temp.) Generally good for you: fishoil, avocado, olive oil, red meat, HDL vs LDL

Lipids (Fats) Functions

• The main energy storing moleculebecause of the high # of carbon to carbonbonds. Why are bonds important?

• …because they Store chemical energy• Lipids store more energy than any otherbiomolecule- 9 Cal/gram = lipids

- 4 Cal/gram = carbohydrates and proteins

Lipids (Fats) Functions

• Insulate

• Main molecule of theCell membrane

• Make up somehormones(testosterone)

?Questions?

• What type of bond connects Amino Acids?

• What are lipids composed of?• What are three of the macromolecules ofcarbohydrates? What is the sugarsubunit?

• What are the four types of elements thatmake up biomolecules?

Enzymes

All enzymes are proteins but…

Enzymes act as a catalyst by speeding upchemical reactions.

All enzymes are catalysts but…

Enzymes

Enzymes – ase

Specific and depend on temperature and pH towork efficiently…otherwise they will denature.

Enzymes are protein catalysts that carry out the chemicalreactions of metabolism. All chemical reactions requireactivation energy to break chemical bonds and beginthe reaction. Enzymes lower the barriers that normallyprevent chemical reactions from occurring by decreasingthe required activation energy.