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The Chemistry of Life: Organic Compounds. Organic compounds Carbon atoms covalently bonded form the backbone of the molecule Very simple carbon compounds are considered inorganic if carbon is not bonded to another carbon or hydrogen Carbon dioxide is an example of inorganic carbon.
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Organic compounds • Carbon atoms covalently bonded form the backbone of the molecule • Very simple carbon compounds are considered inorganic if carbon is not bonded to another carbon or hydrogen • Carbon dioxide is an example of inorganic carbon
Isomers: compounds with the same molecular formulas, but different structures • Structural isomers • Geometric isomers • Enantiomers
Functional groups Groups of atoms that determine the types of chemical reactions and associations Most readily form associations with with other molecules
Functionalgroups Hydroxyl Carbonyl Carboxyl Amino Phosphate Sulfhydryl
Polymers Most macromolecules are polymers Produced by linking monomers
Carbohydrates Sugars Starches Cellulose Carbohydrate means hydrate (water of) carbon Reflects 2:1 ratio of hydrogen to oxygen
Monosaccharides Contain three to seven carbon items Glucose most abundant monosaccharide
Disaccharide “Two sugars” Two monosaccharide rings joined by a glycosidic linkage
Derivatives of monosaccharides are important biological molecules Carbohydrates may combine with proteins to form glycoproteins
Lipids Heterogeneous group of compounds Consist mainly of carbon and hydrogen Some are important hormones and some are used for energy storage Soluble in nonpolar solvents, such as ether, and relatively insoluble in water Important groups include fats, phospholipids, carotenoids, etc.
Triacylglycerols (fats) Most abundant lipids in living organisms When metabolized, yield twice as much energy as carbohydrates Carbohydrates and proteins can be transformed by enzymes into fats
Saturated fatty acids contain maximum possible number of hydrogen atoms Unsaturated fatty acids include one or more adjacent pairs of carbon atoms joined by a double bond Monounsaturated fatty acids—one double bond Polyunsaturated fatty acids—more than one double bond
Phospholipids Amphipathic lipids Two ends differ physically and chemically Uniquely suited to function as fundamental components of cell membranes
Carotenoids Orange and yellow plant pigments Classified with lipids Play a role in photosynthesis Consist of isoprene units Animals convert to vitamin A
Steroid Carbon atoms in four attached rings Consist of isoprene units Cholesterol, bile salts, etc. Involved in regulating metabolism
Proteins Macromolecules composed of amino acids Most versatile cell components Most enzymes are proteins Proteins largely determine what a cell looks like and how it functions
Four levels of organization Primary structure is the amino acid sequence Secondary structure results from hydrogen bonding Tertiary structure depends on interactions among side chains Quaternary structure results from interactions among polypeptides
Secondary structure of a protein
Quaternary structure of a protein
Nucleic acids Transmit hereditary information Determine what proteins a cell manufactures Two classes found in cells Ribonucleic acid (RNA) Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Polymers of nucleotides
Components of nucleotides Five-carbon sugar Deoxyribose (DNA) Ribose (RNA) One or more phosphate groups Nitrogenous base of either a double-ring purine or a single-ring pyrimidine