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Molecules of Life
Organic Molecules
Biological Molecules
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Diverse living organisms share common chemical features. Birds, beasts, plants, and soil
microorganisms share with humans the same basic structural units (cells) and the same kinds of
macromolecules (DNA, RNA, proteins) made up of the same kinds of monomeric subunits (nucleotides,
amino acids). They utilize the same pathways for synthesis of cellular components, share the same
genetic code.
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Organic Molecules
Why is this important?
Cells are mostly water and carbon-based
molecules Carbon has a valence of 4 so it will form a
tremendous variety of large, complex and
diverse molecules Large variety of molecules = diversity of life
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Unity in Diversity
All life is composed of carbon compounds
(Unity)
Diversity of life is due to various ways
carbon can be assembled
Organic chemistry = study of the
compounds formed by carbon
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Organic Chemistry
The four valence electrons in carbon
enable it to be bonded in four different
directions
Usually forms COVALENT bonds with
Hydrogen
Often oxygen, nitrogen Four most common elements are: CHON
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Hydrocarbons
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ISOMER
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Functional groups
groups of atoms that haveproperties/role on the
molecule
OH hydroxide (polar) NH2 amino (polar)
COOH carboxyl (polar)
CH3 methyl (nonpolar)
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Ethane
Ethanol
Functional group
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Organic Chemistry
Biochemistry-chemistry of living things Functional groups change the chemical
properties/function of a molecule
The great diversity of life is caused by only
a few molecules with different
arrangements of functional groups
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C, H, N, O, S & P make up >99% of cellular weight
Percent of Total CellWeight
Number of Types ofEach Molecule
Water 70 1
Inorganic ions 1 20
Sugars & precursors 3 200
Amino acids & precursors 0.4 100
Nucleotides & precursors 0.4 200Lipids & precursors 2 50
Other small molecules 0.2 ~200
Macromolecules (proteins, nucleicacids & polysachharides)
22 ~5000
Composition of Cells
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Biochemistry
Four basic carbon molecules important to
all living things:
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
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Biochemistry
The four basic molecules are long chainsof smaller molecules linked together
A house made up of various parts e.g.
Garage, Living room, Bed room, Kitchen,
etc.
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Biochemistry
Smaller molecules are called
MONOMERS
Long chains are calledPOLYMERS Polymers are large molecules
MACROMOLECULESlarge polymer
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What are the objectives:
For each of the 4 types of molecules:
1. The types and names of the monomers
2. The role of each molecule in life
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How Are Organic Compounds
Formed? Monomers = smaller functional molecules
that can be linked together
Macromolecule= large molecule
Polymers= macromolecules formed bylinking monomers together
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Polymerization
Many monomers are linked together
to form macromolecules
Dehydration synthesis
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How Are Organic Compounds
Formed?
Dehydration synthesis
OH- combines with OH-
from adjacent monomer OH + OH = HOH + O
HOH = H2O
All four compoundsimportant to life are formed
by dehydration synthesis
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Macromolecules dehydration synthesis
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Monomers/Polymers
Hydrolysis - breaking down polymers into
monomers
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Monomers Polymer Formed
Monosaccharides Di & Polysaccharides
Fatty acids Triglycerides Amino acids Proteins
Nucleotides Nucleic acids
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4 Types of Macromolecules
CarbohydratesLipids
Proteins
Nucleic acids
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Carbohydrates
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen C(n)H2O
C6H12O6 glucose
C6H12O6 - fructose
C5H10O5 - ribose
C12H22O11 sucrose
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Carbohydrates
Sugars; three types:
Monosaccharidesone sugar
Disaccharidestwo sugar Oligosaccharidesfew sugar
Polysaccharidesmany sugar
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Carbohydrates Monomers
Simple sugars Monosaccharides
one sweet
Glucose, fructose,ribose, deoxyribose,
galactose
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Di-saccharides
Di = two Two monosaccharides joined together by
DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS
Energy storage Glucose + glucose = maltose; germinating
seeds, malt in beer
Glucose + fructose = sucrose; table sugar Galactose + glucose = lactose; milk
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Oligosaccharides
few Short chains of monosaccharides on the
outside of the cell membrane
Cell-to-cell communication, identification
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Polysaccharides
Examples:
_______used to make cell walls of plants;indigestible without bacteria in gut; fiber
______ - cell walls of fungi; cells of arthropods______stored glucose in plants
_______stored glucose in animals
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Types of Macromolecules
Carbohydrates
LipidsProteins
Nucleic acids
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Triglycerides
Fats, Oils, Waxes Insoluble in water
nonpolar
Glycerol + three fattyacids
Dehydration synthesis
Lots of C-H bonds(energy)
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Triglycerides
2 types of triglycerides: Saturated
Unsaturated
Saturated fatshave no doublebonds; are full(saturated) with
hydrogen Arteriosclerosis
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Saturated fatty acids
Unsaturated fatty acidUnsaturated fatty acid
Saturated fatty acid
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Types of Fats
Saturated
No double
bonds
Saturated w/ H
Solids @ (200)
Animal fats
Bacon grease,
lard, butter
Unsaturated
Double
bond(s)
Unsaturated
Liquids @
(200)
Plant fats (oil)
Corn, peanut,
olive oils
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Waxes
Structural lipid consisting of a long fatty-
acid chain joined to a long alcohol chain
Waterproof
In plants, they form a protective coating on
the outer surfaces
In animals, form protective layers
Whats the purpose of?
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Fats: Functions
Store energy
More energy in fats than in carbs; birds eat
sunflower seeds first
Padding(eye, other organs)
Insulation(keep you warmer; seals, whales)
Waterproofing - oils
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Steroids
General structure
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Steroids
Cholesterol basic molecule used in cellmembrane; also used to make other
steroids (estrogen and testosterone)
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Lipids: Steroids
Sex hormones:
Testosterone; male
Estrogen; female
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Lipids: Steroids
Anabolic steroids= artificially created
testosterone
Mimics male hormone
Increased muscle mass
Decreased sex drive, infertility
Heart, liver problems
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Lipids - Steroids
Anabolic steroids synthetic variations oftestosterone
Builds muscle and bone mass during
puberty; maintains male characteristics Used in 1950s to treat anemia and muscle
diseases
Abused by athletes; linked to liver damage,cardiovascular, mood swings
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Steroids
Insoluble in water (nonpolar) Very different from other lipids in structure
4 fused carbon rings with various
FUNCTIONAL GROUPS
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Different amino acids caused by different side groups
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Proteins - Functions1. Structure feathers, hair, muscle, nail, horn
2. Enzymes speed up reactions3. Hormones chemical messengers
4. Carriers hemoglobin carries oxygen tocells
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Enzymes
Speed up chemical reactions withoutbeing changed
Reduce activation energy
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Nucleic Acids
MonomersNUCLEOTIDES Nucleotides:
A simple sugar
A phosphate groupA NITROGENOUS BASE
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Nucleic Acids
Large and complex organic molecules
Store and transfer important info in the cell
Info is important for the manufacturing of proteins
Two major types:
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
RNA (ribonucleic acid)
Can also act as enzymes
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H bonding
Adenine
alwaysbonds with
Thymine
Cytosine
always
bonds with
guanineA-T
C-G
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A T T C C G C A T G G G T C T T T T
T A A G G C G T A C C C A G A A A A
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TACCATACTTTCGGCTACTTTTGGG
DNA sequence = genetic code
If A-T and C-G, what is the
complimentary strand?
TACCATACTATAGGCTACTATTGGG
ATGGTATGATATCCGATGATAACCC