Chemistry of Life

Inorganic molecules: Are not made of both C AND H

Organic Molecules: Contain C AND H; may have other elements

- hydrocarbons: organic molecules that have ONLY C and H

Compounds of the Cell:

MineralsWater Carbohydrates

Lipids Nucleic Acids

Proteins

WATER:

Body is 65- 75% on average

Functions of water:

Solvent

Medium

Moistens Surfaces

Temperature Regulation

Cushion

Transportation

Hydrolysis

Sense Organs

Lubrication

MineralsMain Functions:

- help maintain fluid balance

- act as a pH buffer

- aid in structure of cells and body

- allow nervous system to work

Examples: Na, Cl, K, P, Ca, Fe

The 4 major compounds in the cell are all types of Macromolecules

First we build a smallish organic molecule.

Macro = BIG

Then we link many of those together building a chain

Single units are called monomers

Chain of units is called polymer

Single units are called monomers

Chain of units is called polymer

Dehydration synthesis: chemical reaction that joins two or more monomers to form polymers plus a water molecule (Building)

Dehydration synthesis:

- Step 1: begin with at least two unlinked monomers

OHHO OHHO+

Dehydration synthesis:

- Step 2: Remove an H from monomer 1 and an OH from monomer 2

- The H and OH combine to form water

OHO OH+

HOH = H2O

HOH

Dehydration synthesis:

- Step 3: connect what is left of the monomers

OHO OH + H2OOHO OH + H2O+

Dehydration synthesis:

Final products:

1 Growing chain - (beginnings of a polymer)

1 Water molecule

OHO OH + H2O

Hydrolysis: Chemical reaction that uses water to separate polymers into monomers. (Break apart)

- Exactly the opposite of Dehydration synthesis

Hydrolysis:

- Step 1: Start with polymer and 1 water molecule

OHO OH + H2O

Hydrolysis:

- Step 2: Break water into 1 H and 1 OH

- Add the H to one monomer and the OH to the other;

OHO OH

H HO

Hydrolysis:

- Step 3: Split the bond between monomers

OHHO OH

HO

Hydrolysis:

- Step 3: Split the bond between monomers

OHHO OHHO

Hydrolysis:

- Final Product:

Two unlinked monomers

OHHO OHHO

CARBOHYDRATES (CHO)

“The Sugars”Formulas:

Molecular:

C6H12O6

Straight

Chain:

Structural:

CARBOHYDRATES

Monomer of carbs: monosaccharide - means “one sweet unit” - these are the simple sugars - made of C, H and O in a 1:2:1 ratio

Disaccharides: “double sugars”;

- two monosaccharides linked together

CARBOHYDRATES

Polysaccharides: 3 or more monosaccharides linked together;

CARBOHYDRATES

Examples of Carbs:

Sugars: glucose, ribose, fructose, sucrose, lactose

Starch: Amylose

Fiber: Cellulose

CARBOHYDRATES

Function of Carbs:

1.Simple FAST Energy for the cell

• monosaccharides = instant energy

• polysaccharides = short term storage of energy - Plants use starch - Animals use glycogen

CARBOHYDRATES

Function of Carbs

2. Are used for building structures

Plants: cellulose is used for cell wall

Animals: chitin is used for exoskeleton

Chitin and cellulose are polysaccharides

Lipids - FatsNo true monomer – can’t make long chains;

One type of Lipid molecule is called a Triglyceride and is made of:

1 glycerol molecule + 3 Fatty Acids

LipidsStructure of Triglyceride:

- 1 glycerol + 3 FA’s

Lipids

LipidsStructure of Lipids:

- 1 glycerol + 3 FA’s Fat

LipidsBuilding or breaking apart a lipid uses same reactions as carbs:

Dehydration synthesis is used to connect each fatty acid (three total) to the glycerol

- three water molecules are made

Hydrolysis is used to break each fatty acid off of the glycerol

- three water molecules are used

Different types of fatty acids

Different types of fatty acids

Phospholipid (almost a triglycerid)

Polar “head” and nonpolar tail

Crucial for forming a membrane!!

Cholesterol (a steroid)

Ring structure is characteristic of all steroids including reproductive hormones

Lipids Examples: fats, oils, waxes, steroids (including cholesterol)

Do not dissolve in water

Lipids

Functions of lipids:

1. Reserve, long term energy storage

2. Structure: plasma membrane of all cells and parts within cells are made of phospholipids;

3. Insulation

4. Produce reproductive hormones

Is Atkins or the South Beach diet really good for you??

Why has society become anti-carb?

Dieting:

Are fats and “carbs” really evil??

Proteins

Monomer: Amino acid

Amino end

-NH2

Carboxyl end

-COOH

Variable R group

NHH

CH

C OH

O

R

Proteins

There are 20 different amino acids

- all have same amino end, carboxyl end and central carbon

- EACH has a different R group

Amino acids are made of:

C, H, O, N, and S (in R group of some)

Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

Uses the Same chemical reactions

NHH

CH

C OH

O

R

NHH

CH

C OH

O

R

+

Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

Step 1: remove H and OH

NHH

CH

C

OH

O

R

N

H

HCH

C OH

O

R

+

Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

Step 2: Link rest of monomers together

OH

NHH

CH

C

O

R

H

NH

CH

C OH

O

R

Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

Product: growing chain + 1 water molecule

OHNHH

CH

C

O

R

HNH

CH

C OH

O

R

+

New bond; Called peptide bond

Amino acids are linked together to form polypeptides

To become a “protein” a polypeptide must be folded into a unique 3D shape

Only proteins have a “job”.

Polypeptides don’t “work” until folded

Examples of proteins and their function

1.Cartilage: builds part of our body; structural protein

2.Hormones: chemical messengers

3.Enzymes: speed up chemical reactions; needed for ALL reactions

4.Antibodies: fight disease

Nucleic Acids

Monomer of nucleic acid: nucleotide

Nucleotides have three parts:

Sugar: ribose or deoxyribose

Phosphate group: PO3

Nitrogen Base – one of 5 different kinds

Structure of Nucleic Acids

P oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

P = Phosphate = H2PO3

Elements of NA: C,H,O,N and P

Nucleic Acids

Function of nucleic acids:

- “info molecules”;

- hold the information on how to make all proteins

- Essentially tell your body how to do everything

Nucleic Acids

Only two kinds:

1. DNA: Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid - “hard drive”of the cell;

- holds the directions to make proteins - MASTER copy of all the information

Nucleic Acids

Only two kinds:

2. RNA: Ribose Nucleic Acid; - transfers info from DNA to ribosomes (protein factories)- temporary copy of one recipe at a time

- “CD/flash drive of the cell”

Differences between RNA and DNA

RNA:

Single stranded Helix

Ribose is the sugar in all RNA nucleotides

Choice of nitrogen bases: Adenine, Uracil, Guanine, Cytosine

Differences between RNA and DNA

DNA:

Double stranded Helix

Deoxyribose is the sugar in all DNA nucleotides

Choice of nitrogen bases: Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine

Structure of Nucleic Acids

- Build/broken down using same reactions!!

P oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

P = Phosphate = H2PO3

oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

H20

oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

P

P = H2PO3 = HPO3

-

P

oH H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

P

P

Chain forms by connecting the sugar of one NT to the Phosphate of the next

Forms Phosphate-sugar backbone

oH H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

oH

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

H

P

P