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Biological Molecules

Biological Molecules. The building block of life. Carbon. All living and once-living things are made up of the element carbon Carbon is unique because it can make up to four strong covalent bonds Bonds can be single, double, or triple bonds Carbon compounds form 3 main shapes:.

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Biological Molecules

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  1. Biological Molecules The building block of life.

  2. Carbon • All living and once-living things are made up of the element carbon • Carbon is unique because it can make up to four strong covalent bonds • Bonds can be single, double, or triple bonds • Carbon compounds form 3 main shapes:

  3. Straight Chains

  4. Branched Chains

  5. And Rings

  6. Structures • A single chain or ring is called a monomer • Many monomers can join together to make a large “macromolecule” called a polymer • A reaction that combines two or monomers is called a condensation reaction • H2O is also produced through condensation reactions • Also called dehydration synthesis • http://www.biotopics.co.uk/as/aminocon.html

  7. Structures • The opposite of dehydration synthesis is hydrolysis • Water (H2O) is added to a polymer and breaks the bonds linking two monomers together • http://www.biotopics.co.uk/as/disaccharidehydrolysis.html

  8. Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates are compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1:2:1 ratio (example: CH2O, C6H12O6) • All living things use carbs as their main source of energy • Plants use starch • Animals use glycogen • Carbohydrates are also used for structure in cells • Plants have cellulose in their cell walls • Fungi have chitin in their cell wall and insects have chitin in their exoskeletons

  9. Carbohydrates • Carbohydrates are sugars, or saccharides • A single sugar molecule is called a monosaccharide • Glucose is a very important monosaccharide and makes up many more complex sugars • Other examples of monosaccharides include: • Sucrose – table sugar • Lactose, found in milk • Fructose, found in most fruits

  10. Carbohydrates • Many monosaccharides linked together are called polysaccharides • Starch, glycogen are long chains of glucose molecules • Cellulose and chitin are also polysaccharides

  11. Proteins • Proteins are made up of the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur • Proteins are polymers of molecules called amino acids • More than 20 different amino acids exist in nature

  12. Proteins http://www.biotopics.co.uk/as/aminocon.html

  13. Proteins • Proteins have four main shapes • Straight chain of amino acids • Chain with twisted amino acids • Twisted and folded chain • Knotted chain • Protein chains are connected by two bonded sulfur atoms, called disulfide bridges

  14. Proteins • Proteins control the rates of reactions and regulate cell processes (enzymes) • Proteins also provide structure within living things • Examples: • Collagen makes up cartilage, tendons (muscles), skin, and bones • Keratin makes up horns, feathers, hair, and finger nails • Enzymes increase reaction rates • Carbonic anhydrase quickly removes carbon dioxide from the bloodstream • Lactase breaks down lactose

  15. Lipids Lipids are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and phosphorous Lipids are fats, oils, waxes, and steroids Lipids are made up of a glycerol backbone and fatty acid chains

  16. Lipids Glycerol Fatty Acids

  17. Lipids

  18. Lipids • A saturated fatty acid is a fatty acid chain where all carbons are linked by single bonds • Saturated fats are solids at room temperature • An unsaturated fatty acid is a fatty acid chain where there is at least one double bond between two carbon atoms • The fatty acid chains are bent where there are double bonds • Unsaturated fats are liquids at room temperature

  19. Lipids • Lipids are used for long-term energy storage • Fats are used for energy storage • Lipids are also used in cell membranes and to deliver chemical messages • Phospholipids make up cell membranes • Steroids include hormones, which deliver chemical messages, and cholesterol • Waxes include ear wax, beeswax, and the waterproof wax coating on plant stems and leaves

  20. Lipids

  21. Nucleic Acids • Nucleic acids are made up of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorous, and nitrogen • Nucleic acids are made up of nucleotides • Nucleotides are made up of • 5-Carbon sugar – deoxyribose (DNA) or ribose (RNA) • Nitrogen base – A, T, G, C, or U • Phosphate group

  22. Nucleic Acids • Nucleic Acids store genetic information (DNA) or synthesize, or put together, proteins (RNA) • The order of the nitrogen base pairs determine genetic code • DNA has adenine (A), guanine (G), thymine (T), and cytosine (C) • RNA has A, G, C, and uracil (U) instead of T • A always joins T or U and G always joins C

  23. Nucleic Acids DNA has a double helix shape RNA has a single helix shape

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