Introduction

Organic Compounds

Essential for life to exist

Definition: Material that contains Carbon and Hydrogen and usually other elements such as Nitrogen, Sulfur and Oxygen.

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

Introduction to Carbohydrates General Information

Carbohydrates - (CH2O) – Compounds of carbons, hydrogen and oxygen

1:2:1 ratio

C-H-O made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen in varying structures. They are classified as either simple or complex. Simple - Monosaccharides and Disaccharides Complex - Polysaccharides

Types of Carbohydrates

Monosaccharides - Are known as simple

sugars. They have the form C6H12O6.

Glucose - Blood sugar. There is always a glucose in a disaccharide.

The storage form of glucose is glycogen. It fuels most of the body’s cells

Fructose - Used commonly as sweeteners.

Types of Carbohydrates

Disaccharides - Two monosaccharides put together. Glucose is always one of the mono. Maltose - 2 Glucose together.

Human digestive enzymes in mouth and small intestine break down starch into maltose

Sucrose - Glucose and Fructose - Found in fruits, vegetables, and grains (which makes them sweet). It is what is refined to make table sugar.

Types of Carbohydrates

Complex Carbohydrates: Polysaccharides - Multiple monosaccharides, primarily

glucose. Different polysaccharides have different shapes

Some have straight chains -starch

Some have branched chains Example: glycogen

Types of Carbohydrates

Human Liver and Muscles store carbs in the form of glycogen

Starches - Storage form of glucose found in plants (wheat, rice, potatoes, peas, beans).

Cellulose – structural – plants

Chitin – structural - insects

DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS HYDROLYSIS

Glycogen

Lipids

Introduction to Lipids

Lipids are the most efficient form of stored energy in animals

Fat is an essential nutrient that provides energy and helps transport fat-soluble nutrients

Excess lipid consumed is stored as fat Plant oils such as peanut, corn and olive oils and

margarine manufactured from plant oils

Introduction to Lipids

Diverse groups of Lipids includes: Triglycerides – most abundant lipid

In the body, fat cells store triglycerides in adipose tissue In foods we call triglycerides “fats and oils”

Fats: solid at RT Oils: Liquid at RT

Phospholipids – 2 % of dietary lipids are phospholipids Versatile molecules play crucial roles as major components of cell

membranes and in blood and body fluids, where they keep fats suspended

Sterols – famous example: Cholesterol Body makes cholesterol Important component of cell membranes and a precursor of sex

hormones, adrenal hormones and vitamin D

Fatty Acids are Building Blocks of Lipids

Fatty acids determine the characteristics of fat

Basic structure of a fatty acid: a chain of carbon atoms (hydrophobic) a carboxyl group (-COOH) at one end a methyl group (-CH3) at the other end

Triglyceride Structure (Dehydration Synthesis/ Hydrolysis)

Triglyceride Functions Energy Source

Fat is a rich and efficient source of calories

Energy Reserve Store excess dietary fat as body fat to help us get through

calorie deficits – adipose tissue

Insulation and Protection Fat tissue accounts for about 15 to 30 percent of body weight Part of that is visceral fat – adipose tissue around organs Subcutaneous fat lies under the skin where it protects and

insulates the body Fat’s structural role is no more dramatic than in the brain,

which is 60% fat

Phospholipids Basic Info

Contains glycerol and fatty acids;

except one fatty acid is replaced by a phosphate group.

Phospholipid Structure

http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/Bio-industry/Inex/graphics/phospholipid.gif

Phospholipid Functions they are ideal emulsifiers can keep oil

and water mixed This property makes phospholipids a

perfect structural element for cell membranes able to communicate with the watery environments of the blood and cell fluids, yet with a lipid portion that allows other lipids to enter and exit cells

Phospholipid Bilayer

http://www.people.virginia.edu/~rjh9u/cellmemb.html

Sterol Structure

http://www.mansfield.ohio-state.edu/~sabedon/biol1030.htm

Sterols Basic Info

Cholesterol serves as the basic structure Cholesterol is the major steroid in animals and the

body is capable of synthesizing it

Structure Sterols have a multiple ring structure Unlike triglycerides and phospholipids, most

sterols do not contain fatty acids

Sterol Functions Cholesterol Functions

Cholesterol is a necessary, important substance in body Major structural component of all cell membranes especially

abundant in nerve and brain tissue

Hormones Sex steroids cortisol (anti-inflammatory)

Proteins

Introduction to Proteins Basic Information

The primary function of proteins are the building and the maintenance of the organism

Proteins are responsible for the greatest range of functions

Amino Acids are Building Blocks of Proteins

Amino acids are the building blocks of polypeptides or proteins.

Amino acids are identified by their side group one carboxylic acid (-COOH), one amino group (-NH2) and

one side group unique to each amino acid (R)

Side group give each amino acid its identity ***

Amino Acids

http://www.rothamsted.bbsrc.ac.uk/notebook/courses/guide/images/aatheo.gif

Proteins are synthesized by dehydration synthesis and broken apart by hydrolysis

Polymerization

Polymerization Two amino acids

together make a dipeptide.

Many amino acids together make a polypeptide.

Bonds between amino acids are peptide bonds

Protein Structure Amino Acid Sequence

Amino acids link in specific sequences to form protein up to hundreds of amino acids long

Each amino acid is joined to the next by a peptide bond (Covalent bonds)

A polypeptide contains more than 10 amino acids

Protein Shape As a cell assembles amino acids into a protein,

the protein assumes a unique 3-D shape; determines the protein’s function and the way it interacts with other molecules

Protein Shape Protein Denaturation: Destabilizing a

Protein’s ShapeChanges in acidity or alkalinity, high

temperatures, alcohol, oxidation and agitation can cause a protein to unfold and lose its shape (denature); lose their ability to function properly because its shape determines its function

• Structural

• Transport and Storage

• Antibodies

• Cell Membrane Proteins

• Enzymes

Introduction to Nucleic Acids Basic Information

Macromolecules that dictate the amino acid sequence of proteins – which in turn controls the basic life processes

Nucleic acids are also the source of genetic information in chromosomes

Thus nucleic acids are the chemical link between generations

Nucleic Acid Structure Nucleic acids are made of

simple units called nucleotides connected to form long chains Each nucleotide consists of 3

parts: A 5 carbon sugar – either

deoxyribose or ribose A nitrogen containing base

which is a single or double ringlike structure of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen

Phosphate group

RNA vs. DNA Ribose in nucleotides = called ribonucleic acids

(RNA) Deoxyribose in nucleotides = called

deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) RNA is like DNA except the sugar is ribose

Also RNA has uracil instead of thymine Structurally DNA and RNA are different

DNA is a double helix RNA is single stranded

3 types of RNA in cells which each perform a different role in the synthesis of proteins

Nucleic Acids

http://www.bioteach.ubc.ca/MolecularBiology/AMonksFlourishingGarden/dna.gif

Structure of DNA

Functions of DNA DNA forms genes – units of genetic information

that pass from parent to offspring Structure of DNA explains how DNA functions as

the molecule of genetic information

DNA stores information in a code consisting of units that are three nucleotides long – called triplet codons

The structure of DNA accounts for its ability to be copied and passed through inheritance from one generation to the next

Summary of Organic Compounds

Organic Compound Building Block(s)

Carbohydrate Monosaccharide

Lipid Fatty Acid, glycerol

Protein Amino Acid

Nucleic Acid Nucleotide