Transcript Biomolecules

Biomolecules
Chemicals of life
Matter and Energy
 Matter is anything that occupies space and
has mass. It can typically be measured in
some way and is found in one of four states
(solid, liquid, gas and plasma)
 Energy has no mass and does not occupy
space. It is the ability to do work. It comes
in four forms (Chemical, Electrical,
Mechanical and Radiant)
Composition of matter.
 All matter is made up of smaller units
known as atoms, molecules and
compounds. The 112 known elements are
shown on the periodic table.
 96% of the elements of life come from only
four basic atoms. (Carbon, Hydrogen,
Oxygen and Nitrogen)
 If molecules contain Carbon, they are
considered “Organic”. All Biomolecules are
Organic compounds
Water
 The most important Inorganic
substance of Life.
 70% of all living things is made up of
water.
 Water is slow to heat and slow to cool
 Water is “polar” and will not mix with
Non-Polar liquids like oil, wax and
grease
 Water dissolves many substances
Water
 Will disassociate when combined with
other chemicals to form acids and bases.
 Acids produce a high content of H+ ions
 Bases have a high content of OH- ions
 The pH scale is a measure of acidity of
fluids.
 0 is an extreme acid and 14 is an extreme
base. Both are hazardous to life!
pH scale
Carbohydrates
 A key source of energy in Life
 Most are products of Photosynthesis
 Simple sugars include Glucose,
Sucrose, Fructose and Lactose.
 Complex sugars include Starch,
Cellulose, Glycogen, and Chitin.
Carbohydrates
 Have a typical Carbon-HydrogenOxygen ratio of 1-2-1.
Carbohydrates
 Keys sources of food containing
carbohydrates include:
 Bread, pasta, rice, beans, fruit,
vegetables, fruit juice and cereals
Proteins
 Long chains of macromolecules that
contain Nitrogen that make up much
of the structure of the body.
 Muscle, skin, hair, blood, tendons and
ligaments are made of it.
 Enzymes are key proteins
 Proteins are made up of smaller subunits called Amino Acids.
Basic Shape of Proteins
 Primary- a single line of amino acids
 Secondary- Alpha helix and Beta
Pleated Sheets
 Tertiary- Bending of Secondary
proteins by Chaperone Proteins
 Quaternary-occurs when many
tertiary proteins are linked together
Lipids
 Includes the following non-polar
substances: Fats, Oils, Waxes, Steroids and
Hormones.
 It stores energy for long periods of time
 Has more energy per gram than
carbohydrates.
 Is insoluble in water.
 Found in cell membranes, fat cells and
protective coverings.
Nucleic Acids
 Chains of hereditary information that
are found in DNA and RNA.
 Smaller units of Nucleic Acids are
called Nucleotides
 Nucleic Acids are made up of
carbohydrates, nitrogen and
phosphates
 Most Nucleic Acids are codes for how
to make Protein.
Both DNA and RNA are made up
of Nucleic Acids and nucleotides
Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP)
 Single nucleotides that is the energy
currency of cellular respiration.
 All cells use ATP to provide energy for
cellular processes
 A single glucose molecule can provide
36 ATP units in aerobic conditions
ATP stores and releases Energy
for the cell
Enzymes
 A special type of Protein
 Acts as a biological catalyst to speed
up chemical reactions.
 Enzymes help maintain Homeostasis
 Enzymes are very specific and react
only with a particular substrate… sort
of like a key in a lock.
 Enzymes tend to either break down
molecules or build them up.
An Enzyme binds to a Substrate at the
Active site. The resulting reaction either
breaks down or builds up a molecule.