Molecules of Life Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids
Molecules of Life All living things are composed of the following basic elements: Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorous Sulfur Remember CHNOPS
Inorganic vs. Organic Inorganic molecules do not contain the element carbon Water Organic molecules contain the element carbon Example: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acid 1 exception: carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and carbon monoxide (CO)
Molecules of Life Living things have four basic carbon compounds: Carbohydrates Sugar, starch, cellulose Lipids Fats, waxes, steroids, chlorophyll Proteins Muscle tissue, hemoglobin, enzymes Nucleic Acid DNA or RNA
Monomer vs. Polymer Monomer- Mono = one, mero = part A molecule that can bind to other molecules to form a polymer Examples: Glucose (C 6 H 12 O 6 ), Amino Acids Polymer Poly = many, meros = parts A large molecule that contains many molecules A large molecule made of smaller, molecules of the same type (monomers) linked together. A protein (the polymer) is made of many amino acids (monomers) Monomer Polymer
Carbohydrates Composed of CHO (Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen) Always in 1:2:1 ratio (Glucose= C 6 H 12 0 6 ) Examples: Sugar and Starch Most end in -ose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, cellulose Glucose- C 6 H 12 0 6 is the basic fuel in all living things, produced during photosynthesis Carbohydrates provide energy Carbohydrates may be converted to lipids (fats) for long term energy storage
Carbohydrates can be either: Carbohydrates 1. monosaccharide: mono = 1, saccharide = sugar one, single carbohydrate (monomer) examples: glucose or fructose 2. disaccharide: di = e, saccharide = sugar two monosaccharides put together (polymer) example: Sucrose (table sugar) = 1 glucose + 1 fructose Maltose (malt sugar) = 1 glucose + 1 glucose Lactose (milk sugar) = 1 glucose + 1 galactose 3. polysaccharide: poly = many, saccharide = sugar many (more than 2) monosaccharides put together (also a polymer) examples: starch, glycogen and cellulose
More on polysaccharides: Starches Many glucose molecules bonded together (polymer) Plants store energy in the form of starch Found in many staple foods: rice, wheat, and potatoes Glycogen Many glucose molecules linked together but differently than starch (polymer) Animals store glycogen in muscles/liver Cellulose Structure component of the cell wall in plants that provides support (polymer) Humans cannot digest cellulose vegetable fibers are composed of cellulose
Lipids Composed of CHO (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) NOT in 1:2:1 ratio like carbohydrates 1 glycerol and 3 fatty acids (think Fat E )
Lipids Do not dissolve in water ( oil and water ) Animals store energy in the form of fat Examples of lipids Fats: acts as an insulator Oils: some birds secrete oil to help them waterproof themselves Waxes: helps plants conserve water Steroids: hormones such as cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen
Cell membrane is made of a phospholipid bilayer
Two types of Lipids Saturated fats Single carbon bonds (carbons are linked together by one bond) C-C-C-C-C-C-C-C animal fats like butter, cream, cheese solid at room temperature Unsaturated: Double bonded (some carbons are linked together by two bonds) C-C-C=C-C-C-C-C Plant fats like canola oil, olive oil Liquid at room temperature
Proteins Composed of CHON (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen) Some types of proteins can contain other elements like S, P, Fe, and Cu (Sulfur, Phosphorous, Iron, Copper) Made of small units (monomers) called amino acids. Examples: Proteins make up muscle, skin and hair Hemoglobin (blood) is a protein that carries oxygenated blood Enzymes are proteins that speed up reactions
Nucleic Acid Nucleic Acids are large complex molecules containing genetic material Made of many nucleotides 5 carbon sugar (ribose, deoxyribose) phosphate group nitrogen base (adenine, thymine, guanine, OR cytosine)
Nucleic Acids Nucleotides: Phosphate 5 carbon sugar (deoxyribose in DNA, ribose in RNA) Nitrogen Base (Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, Cytosine)
Many nucleotides linked together make up DNA and RNA strands P sugar T sugar 1 nucleotide = phosphate 5-c sugar nitrogen base P P sugar sugar C G C sugar sugar P P many nucleotides make DNA and RNA P P sugar T sugar P
Two types of nucleic acid 1. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA carries instructions that regulate cells activities 2. RNA: Ribonucleic acid RNA uses information from DNA to make proteins
Nucleic Acids Contain genetic information More details about DNA and RNA later!