Biomolecules The chemistry of life
Knowing Word Parts can help you remember big words in Biochem Mono one, single Di two, double Poly many, much Hydro water (think: hydrate) Bio related to life (think: Biology is the study of life) Macro- large (think: Big Mac) De- to remove Lysis- break apart (think: Lysol breaks down germs) Saccharide- sugar Synthesis- the make new, form
So what are Macromolecules? Living cells are made of many large molecules called macromolecule. Because they are necessary for life, they also sometimes called biomolecules. The word organic also means living so you may even see them called organic Molecules. Biomolecules are big structures that are made from many smaller units (or building blocks) called monomers.
There are 4 Main Biomolecules 1. Proteins 2. Nucleic acids 3. Carbohydrates 4. Lipids
How do we make Biomolecules? When we are growing, we need to make new big macromolecules for our body. We do this by putting the building blocks we have in our body together. Remember MONOMER means one part so it is ONE LEGO PIECE. When we have put a bunch of them together, we have created a POLYMER which means many parts, basically a whole LEGO Castle! Monomers join together to form polymers by removing water. When you pull the water out, it allows the two parts to join together. This process is called dehydration synthesis.
DEHYDRATION SYNTHESIS When joining two monomers together, you remove the H from one monomer and the OH from another monomer. This forms water that is removed and the two monomers join together during their loss. Remember: to dehydrate means to remove water and synthesis means to make something so it just means making something by removing water
How do we break down biomolecules? We also have to be able to break down biomolecules into their building blocks. Think about digestion! You eat a hamburger which is full of protein, carbohydrates and fats. You want to break those all down so you can use the building blocks to build new muscles and get energy. The breaking down of biomolecules is the reverse of dehydration synthesis. So we are basically un-doing what we did. So if we had to remove water to make it, we are going to have to add the water back to break them apart. The process of adding water to a polymer to break it back into monomers is called HYDROLYSIS.
OPPOSITE PROCESSES
CARBOHYDRATES SUGARS & STARCHES
CARBOHYDRATES ARE MADE UP OF CARBON HYDROGEN OXYGEN Usually in a 1:2:1 ratio
The Monomer for Carbodrates is A MONOSACCHARIDE (meaning 1 Sugar) EXAMPLES:
BUILDING WITH MONOSACCHARIDES (Dehydration Synthesis at work) When 2 monosaccharides come together, they make a DISACCHARIDE (meaning 2 sugars) When many monosaccharides come together, they make a POLYSACCHARIDE (meaning many sugars) EXAMPLE Every time two monomers come together, water is removed EXAMPLE
STARCH IS BASICALLY A LOT OF SUGAR JOINED TOGETHER STARCH Glucose
The function of Carbohydrates is Main source of ENERGY We use monosaccharides for energy. Think about a Sugar High- consuming carbohydrates gives you an immediate intake of energy. Other Functions: Plants contain cellulose- the major component of cell walls. Starch the main storage material in plants. Animals contain glycogen the main form of storage.
LIPIDS FATS, OILS and WAXES http://www.brainpop.com/health/nutrition/fats/
LIPDS ARE MADE UP OF Mainly Carbon and Hydrogen (with some Oxygen too)
THE MONOMER FOR LIPIDS IS 3 FATTY ACIDS and 1 GLYCEROL They come together (through Dehydration Synthesis) to make a LIPID. MONOMERS You will sometimes hear Lipids called Triglycerides for the 3 fatty acids attached to a glycerol
STRUCTURE OF LIPIDS *** If the fatty acids have at least one double bond (=) in the carbon chain they are unsaturated. glycerol 3 fatty acid chains
THE FUNCTION OF LIPIDS Fats STORE ENERGY for later use. The purpose of fat is to have energy on hold for if you have a period without access to food. That stored fat also provides insulation which keeps us warm and our organs protected. Lipids have other roles as well: -Part of the Cell Membrane (lipid bilayer) -Waterproof coverings -Steroids and Hormones (messengers in the body)
SATURATED VS UNSATURATED FATS Saturated Unsaturated 1. solid at room temperature 1. liquid at room temperature 2. found mostly in animals (like BUTTER) 3. no double bonds between carbons 2. found mostly in plants ( like oils) 3. double bonds found between carbons
NUCLEIC ACIDS R N A D N A
NUCLEIC ACIDS ARE MADE UP OF Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen Phosphorus
The Monomer for Nucleic Acids is a NUCLEOTIDE Each nucleotide has 3 parts: SUGAR (either ribose or deoxyribose) Phosphate Group Nitrogen Base
From Nucleotides to Nucleic Acids Nucleotides join together to make nucleic acids. RNA The phosphates and sugars bond to make a backbone. In RNA this is the only bonding. In DNA, because it is double stranded, two bases also join in the middle DNA
The Function of Nucleic Acids STORE AND TRANSMIT GENETIC OR HERIDITARY INFORMATION DNA is the blueprint for life and RNA is essentially a copy of it used for making proteins.
PROTEINS YOUR BODY BUILDERS AND MORE
PROTEINS ARE MADE UP OF Carbon Hydrogen Oxygen Nitrogen
The Monomer for Proteins is AMINO ACIDS There are exactly 20 different amino acids. Think of them like beads on a string. Which beads you put on and in which order determines the necklace (protein).
AMINO ACID STRUCTURE All Amino Acids have the same amino and carboxyl groups The R group is unique to each amino acid. It is what makes it different from other amino acids.
Beads on a Strand: Polypeptides Amino Acids are monomers and they come together to make the polymer (a protein) by the process of Dehydration Synthesis. Two Amino Acids together can be called a Dipeptide and many amino acids together can be called a Polypeptide.
Function of Proteins PROTEINS HAVE A DIVERSE RANGE OF IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS: Some proteins control the rate of reactions and regulate cell processes. We call these Enzymes (and we will be learning more about these soon!) Some are used to grow and repair skin, bones and muscles (this is why body builders drink protein shakes, to give more building blocks to add muscle tissue) Other transport substances into or out of cells or help to fight disease. (This is the job of a very important type of proteins, Antibodies).