Macromolecules

06/13/12

Today’s Agenda

• Activity – Forming Lipid and Carbohydrate Polymers.

• Lecture: Protein and Nucleic Acids

• Activity – Building DNA out of Candy

Proteins

• Monomer = Amino Acid– There are 20 different amino acids.

• These building blocks have 3 distinct features that I would like you to know:– Amine Group– Carboxyl Group (like in fats)– An “R” group. This is the group that can vary

between different kinds of amino acids.

Amino Acid Structure

AmineGroup

Carboxyl Group

Variable Group

Phenylalanine

Serine

“R” Groups

Forming Proteins

• How do Amino Acids form proteins?– Dehydration synthesis!

What do Proteins Do?

• LOTS AND LOTS OF THINGS!!!– Building blocks for you body.

• Hair, Skin, Organs, etc. – Aid in Digestion– Help carry out chemical reactions– Pump small molecules in and out cells– Responsible for Cell Movement– Pretty much anything or any process uses a protein at

some point.– Not really used for energy, like carbs and lipids.

Proteins You May Know

• Hemoglobin – Allows red blood cells to carry oxygen.

• Collagen – Fibers that provide strength to parts of the body.

• Insulin – Hormone that is used to lower blood sugar.

Nucleic Acids

• Monomer = Nucleotides• These are composed of 3 parts:

Nucleotides

• Phosphate = Provides the “back-bone” of Nucleic Acids.– Like our skeleton does to our whole body.

• Sugar = Differentiates the two Nucleic Acid Polymers

• Nitrogenous Base (Base) = The code!– There are 5 total (A, G, C, T, U)

Nucleic Acids – Polymers

• There are two: DNA and RNA

• DNA = Deoxyribonucleic acid– Has the bases A, C, G, and T– Double Helix = Two strands

• RNA = ribonucleic acid– Has the bases A, C, G, and U– One strand

What is the Function of DNA?

• DNA is the genetic code– It is the information the “codes” for who you are.– 3,000,000 base pairs!

• It is the material that gets passed on to your children.

• The nucleotide = the basic form of inheritance– Inheritance = What we get from our parents and what we

pass to our children.

DNA Structure

Phosphate Backbone

Sugar

Nitrogenous Bases

Antiparallel! Strands run in opposite directions.

Building DNA!

• Twizzlers are the phosphate backbone + the sugars!

• Different colored gummy bears are the bases.– Red = A– Yellow = T– Green = G– Clear = C

• Toothpicks are the bonds.– A bonds with T. G with C.

Next Time

• Read pages:

• I will make a website to post homeworks, lectures, and other things.

• Homework 2 is due

• Introduction to cells