Transcript Chemistry notes 2013

Chemistry of Life
CHNOPS
Molecules
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When you put atoms together such as hydrogen
and oxygen, you get molecules: Water.
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The same is true for CHNOPS. These 5 atoms can
rearrange themselves in all sorts of combinations
to form the basic building blocks of all living
organisms: MACROMOLECULES
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Macro = Large
Macromolecules = Large Molecules
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Life is made of 4 basic macromolecules:
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Carbohydrates
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic acids
You need to know these!
Role of Carbohydrates
 Carbohydrates
perform numerous roles in
living organisms.
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Key source of energy storage and
transportation
 Animals:
glycogen
 Plants: starch
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Key part in structure of DNA, immune
system, fertilization, disease prevention,
blood clotting , and development.
Monosaccharide
Disaccharide
Polysaccharide
Carbohydrates and Starch
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What foods contain carbohydrates?
Starch is a carbohydrate
(polysaccharide) produced by most
green plants. Its how plants store energy
(end product of photosynthesis).
It is the most common carbohydrate in
the human diet.
Pure starch is a white, tasteless and
odorless powder.
Starch is processed to produce many of
the sugars in processed foods.
The biggest industrial non-food use of
starch is as adhesive in the papermaking
process (sticky when wet). Starch can be
applied to parts of some garments
before ironing, to stiffen them.
What foods contain starch?
Role of Lipids
 Aka:
fats
 Provide organisms with:
 Nutrients
 Energy
storage (whale blubber?)
 Create cell membrane
 Signaling molecules (ex: hormones)
Are lipids soluble (mix) in water?
Lipids and the Cell Membrane
 Phospholipids
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Lipid (non-polar)+Phosphate (polar)
Role of Proteins
 Antibodies
– identify and
help organisms defend
against foreign invaders
(virus, bacteria)
 Enzymes:
Proteins that facilitate
biochemical reactions.
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They are often referred to as catalysts
because they speed up chemical
reactions.
Examples include the enzymes lactase and
pepsin. Lactase breaks down the sugar
lactose found in milk. Pepsin is a digestive
enzyme that works in the stomach to break
down proteins in food.
 Hormones
- messenger proteins which
help to coordinate certain bodily
activities.
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Examples include insulin, oxytocin, and
somatotropin. Insulin allows cells to absorb
glucose. Oxytocin stimulates contractions in
females during childbirth. Somatotropin is a
growth hormone that stimulates protein
production in muscle cells.
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Structural Proteins - are fibrous and stringy and
provide support. Examples include keratin,
collagen, and elastin. Keratins strengthen
protective coverings such as hair, quills,
feathers, horns, and beaks. Collagens and
elastin provide support for connective tissues
such as tendons and ligaments.
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Transport Proteins - are carrier proteins which
move molecules from one place to another
around the body. Examples include
hemoglobin and cytochromes. Hemoglobin
transports oxygen through the blood.
Cytochromes operate in the electron
transport chain as electron carrier proteins
Proteins are composed of
Amino Acids
 There
are 22 amino acids
 10 of which are considered “essential”
body cannot make them. Must be
obtained from other organisms.
 Combined in different ways, there are
hundreds of amino acids intermediates
performing tasks throughout your body
which are commonly known as
“metabolic pathways.”
Single Amino Acid
200-300 amino acids linked together
Polar/Nonpolar
+ or Fold in on each other
Metabolic Pathways – series
of chemical reactions that
occur in the cell
Nucleic Acids
 DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic Acid)
 RNA (Ribonucleic Acid)
Organic compounds?
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derived from living matter
compounds containing
carbon
Glucose
Fructose
Our bodies are made of organic
compounds