Biochemistry

THE CHEMISTRY OF LIFE!!

What exactly is it?

Simply put: the chemistry of living things

Organic vs. Inorganic

• Organic molecules:– These are molecules that make up living things– Organic molecules contain carbons and hydrogens– They can also have other elements such as N, O, P,

S– Remember CHNOPS?????

Can we make organic compounds?

• Urea CO(NH2)2– Synthesized by accident!!– (NH4+) + (CNO-) “inorganic salt”?– Man-made pee?

Ethane EthyleneBenzene

Methane Propane

What do you notice about all of these molecules?

These are what we call HYDROCARBONS

Fossil fuels? hydrophobic

Acetylene

What about the other stuff?

• While compounds like H2O and CO2 have C and H atoms, in order for our molecules to be organic, they must contain C’s and H’s together.

Carbon can do everything!

• Carbon’s # of valence electrons allow it to form 4 covalent bonds at a time

C

Ethane Ethylene

Benzene

Methane Propane

Acetylene

• Because of this, the number of possible organic compounds is endless! (sort of)– There are more

than 6 million known organic compounds!!!

– About 500,000 known inorganic compounds…

Inorganic compounds are still important!!

• We already know that WATER is essential for life!!

• We are mostly made up of it! (65-75%)

Water• Universal solvent• Moistens surfaces– Dry skin?

• Transportation

• Cushioning• Medium• Temp regulation• Hydrolysis- huh?!

What else do we need to stay alive?

Minerals

• Electrolytes– Sodium, chlorine, potassium– These are necessary for the nervous

system – Conduct electricity

• Iron– Found in blood, carries oxygen

• Calcium & phosphorus– Necessary for our bones!!

Minerals also act as buffers…what does that mean?

Macromolecules

• Think of the word…what do you think we’re dealing with?

• Monomers and Polymers

Four major macromolecules

• Carbohydrates• Proteins• Lipids• Nucleic Acids

Functional Groups

Phosphate group

Monomers and polymers

• Monomers: The “building blocks” for our macromolecules

• Polymers: Molecules built from monomers.

• How do we know the difference?

How do we link monomers and polymers together?

• Dehydration synthesis!– Sounds scary…but its not

Dehydration: _____________________

Synthesis: _____________________

How do we break polymers apart? HYDROLYSIS (what do you think that means?)

MACROMOLECULES

Carbohydrates

• What sorts of things are carbohydrates?• Atoms? (HINT: look at the name)

Monomers:_____________

Polymers:__________________

Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides: ___________________

Disaccharides: ________________________

Polysaccharides: _______________________

How do we link sugars together?

• Dehydration synthesis!! (sounds scary…but it’s not)

What’s going on here????

We can also break polysaccharides apart

• HYDROLYSIS– Break it down…• Hydro = ______________• Lysis = __________________

H2O

PolysaccharideTwo

monosaccharides

Function of carbs• Provide ENERGY

– glucose is the starting material for cellular respiration glycolysis– Energy storage

• Materials for cell wall in plants and fungi (chitin and cellulose)

Types of carbs :- Sugars- Starches- Fibers

Polysaccharides

Carbohydrates provide energy

• Sugars can be stored for later use

• Ex. Starch and glycogen

• Think of it as a “sugar bank”

• How are plants and animals able to use these stored sugars?

Glycogen

• Glycogen is the polysaccharide animals use to store glucose

• Glycogen is stored in muscle/liver cells

• Pasta parties?• Problem with low-carb

diets?

Structural polysaccharides

• Cellulose- polysaccharide: monomers: glucose

• Same as starch?!• This has to do with

formation of glucose monomers

Lipids

• Triglycerides• Phospholipids• Steroids

All lipids have one thing in common…

Triglycerides

Monomers? Polymers?

One glycerol + 3 Fatty Acids

Saturated vs. unsaturated

• Saturated: refers to number of hydrogen atoms

• Solid at room temperature

• Paula Deen fats: butter, lard

Functions

• Long-term energy storage

• Cell structure phosphoLIPIDbilayer (huh?)

• Insulation• Cushioning for vital

organs• Hormones

Proteins

C - C = ON-HH

R OH

H

Amino Acid

NH2 amino groupCOOHcarboxyl groupRvariable group (different depending on amino acid

Proteins

• Monomers: amino acids• Polymers: polypeptide

+

HOW DO AMINO ACIDS COME TOGETHER TO FORM POLYPEPTIDES???

Proteins

• Polypeptides will twist and fold to make a functional protein

Function of proteins

• Enzymes• Messengers• Immunity• Structure

Nucleic Acids

• Monomers: nucleotides

P o

H

OH

H

H

H

BaseCH2

HPhosphate group

Nitrogenous Base

Ribose Sugar

Polymers

Provide genetic information for our cells

Nucleic Acids

• DNA– Deoxyribose – Bases: A,G,C,T

• RNA– ribose – Bases: A,G,C,U

(instead of T)

DNA RNA Protein