Molecules of Life

Carbon Hydrogen Nitrogen Oxygen Phosphorus Sulfur

Macromoleculesaka: Biomolecules

The Molecules of Life!

Macromolecules are…• Large polymers

(poly=many)

• Built by monomers (mono = one)

• 4 main classes (examples of carbon based biomolecules)

– Carbohydrates– Lipids– Proteins– Nucleic Acids

Why do we eat?• We eat to take in more of these chemicals

– Food for building materials• to make more of us (cells)• for growth• for repair

– Food to make energy• calories• to make ATP

ATP

2006-2007

How do we make these molecules?

We build them!

Building large molecules of life• Chain together smaller molecules

– building block molecules = monomers

• Big molecules built from little molecules– polymers

• Small molecules = building blocks

• Bond them together = polymers

Building large organic molecules

How to build large molecules• Synthesis

– building bigger molecules from smaller molecules

– building cells & bodies• repair• growth• reproduction

+

ATP

H2O

HO

HO H

H HHO

How to build a polymer• Synthesis

– joins monomers by “taking” H2O out• one monomer donates OH–

• other monomer donates H+

• together these form H2O

– requires energy & enzymes

enzymeDehydration synthesisDehydration synthesis

Condensation reactionCondensation reaction

You gotta be open to“bonding!

How to take large molecules apart

• Digestion– taking big molecules apart– getting raw materials

• for synthesis & growth

– making energy (ATP)• for synthesis, growth & everyday functions

+

ATP

H2O

HO H

HO H HO H

How to break down a polymer

• Digestion– use H2O to breakdown polymers

• reverse of dehydration synthesis

• cleave off one monomer at a time

• H2O is split into H+ and OH–

– H+ & OH– attach to ends

– requires enzymes– releases energy

Breaking upis hard to do!

HydrolysisHydrolysis

DigestionDigestion

enzyme

Example of digestion

starch glucose

ATP

ATP

ATP

ATP

ATP

ATPATP

• Starch is digested to glucose

Example of synthesis

amino acids protein

amino acids = building block

protein = polymer

Proteins are synthesized by bonding amino acids

Carbohydrates

Fuel and Building Material for Life!

Carbohydrates are…

• Most abundant carbon compounds found in living things

• Sugars (example) = quick energy• Monosaccharides- simple sugars

» Glucose

• Disaccharides- sugars built of 2 monosaccharides

» Sucrose+Fructose

Monomer = 1 C: 2 H: 1 O Monosaccharides (simple sugars)

C6H12O6

Carbos cont…

• Starch (example) = Polysaccharides: act as nutrient storage-and form structural components of living things• Glycogen- stores glucose in muscle

tissue for quick energy

• Cellulose- provides rigid structure

»Cell wall of plant cells

CELL WALL

LIPIDS

• Fats: gylcerol and fatty acids– Saturated

• Solidifies- bad• Ex: animal fat and butter

– Unsaturated• No solidification- good• Ex: vegetable oils

– Fats are used for energy storage• Long-term food reserves stored in adipose (fat)cells

Monomer: C, H, O - Glycerol and fatty

acids

Lipids cont…

• Fat (adipose) provides insulation for warmth

– Whales, seals

• Fat provides cushioning for organs

I’m Fat!

Fat Cells (adipose)

Lipids cont…

• Phospholipids– Make up cell membranes

The bilayer forms a boundary between the cell and the external environment.

Phospholipid BilayerPhospholipid Bilayer

Proteins

The Ultimate Polymer!

Proteins…• Monomer: C,H,O,N

– Amino acids20 different amino acids

Amino group: -NH2Carboxyl group: -COOH

Protein Structure

• 2 or more amino acids joined by peptide bond–Hence the other name for a

protein: polypeptide chain

Structure=Function

• Protein’s specific structure (shape) determines it’s duties (job)

Four levels of organizations

Types of Proteins

• *Structural Defensive– Support -Antibodies

• Storage *Enzymes– Embryo food -catalysts

• *Transport Hormones– In and out of cell -messages

• Receptors *Contractile– Drugs -muscles

Examples of proteins

• Protein channels in cell membrane

• Keratin: in fingernails and hair

• Muscle fibers

• Lactase

Nucleic Acids

Informational Polymers

Nucleic Acids

• 2 types– DNA-double-stranded

• Genetic material– Inherited from parents

– RNA-single-stranded• Controls protein synthesis

• Nucleic acids work together to – Build proteins

Monomer: NucleotidesC,H,O,N,Ppentose sugarphospate nitrogen base