BIOCHEMISTRY• ALL LIVING THINGS ARE COMPOSED

OF THE FOLLOWING BASIC ELEMENTS

•CARBON

•HYDROGEN

•OXYGEN

•NITROGEN

• A MOLECULE CONTAINING CARBON IS• CALLED AN ORGANIC MOLECULE* H2O and CO2 are inorganic molecules

•PHOSPHOROUS

•SULFUR

“CHNOPS”, Essential Elements

lipidlipid

carbohydrate

carbohydrate

protein

protein

nucleic acid

nucleic acid

waterwater

•most important inorganic

compound in living things

•most cellular processes take place

in water solutions

•excellent solvent (substances dissolve

in water)

CO2CO2

The Nature of Matter• ATOM is the basic unit of matter

“unable to be cut”• Subatomic particles are the

neutrons (no charge), electrons (- charge), protons (+ charge).

• Compound- chemical combination of two or more elements

• Element- pure substance made of one type of atom (periodic table)

WATERCharacteristics: ¾ of the earth is water, water expands as it freezes, ice is less dense that liquid H2O (floats),

Polarity: A water molecule is polar because there is an uneven distribution of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms so…… it acts like a magnet

Hydrogen bonds: attraction between the H atom and the O atom; weak bonds

Cohesion: attraction between molecules of the same substance (forms beads on surfaces, insects on H20 surfaces)

Adhesion: attraction between molecules of different substances (capillary action, meniscus)

THERE ARE 4 BASIC CARBON COMPOUNDS IN ALL LIVING THINGS: (BIOCHEMICAL MOLECULES)

1. CARBOHYDRATES1. CARBOHYDRATES

2. LIPIDS

4. NUCLEIC ACIDS 4. NUCLEIC ACIDS

3. PROTEINS3. PROTEINS

CARBOHYDRATES•INCLUDES SUGARS, STARCHES, AND CELLULOSE

•PROVIDES short term ENERGY FOR ORGANISMS•4 calories/gram

•SUGARS: MONOSACCHARIDES (SINGLE SUGARS) DISACCHARIDES (DOUBLE SUGARS)

•MAY BE LINKED TOGETHER TO FORM POLYSACCHARIDES (MANY SUGARS)•PLANTS STORE ENERGY IN POLYSACCHARIDE - STARCH•ANIMALS STORE ENERGY IN POLYSACCHARIDE-GLYCOGEN

PLANTS – JOIN SIMPLE SUGARS TOGETHER TO

MAKE - CELLULOSE

CELLULOSE – A polysaccharide in the cell walls of plants

-Cellulose we eat comes from vegetables, fruits, whole grain breads and cereals

-Your body CANNOT break down, no nutritional value (fiber)

LIPIDSINCLUDES FATS, OILS, WAXES, PHOSPHOLIPIDS,AND STERIODS.

•Energy= 9 calories/gram

•FATS - ACT AS INSULATORS

•WAXES - HELP PLANTS CONSERVE WATER

•OILS - MAKE SOME BIRDS FEATHERS WATERPROOF•PHOSPHOLIPIDS – MAIN COMPONENT OF CELL MEMBRANE

•STEROIDS– HORMONES THAT AFFECT CELL ACTIVITY

*Non-polar molecules that are not soluble in water

LIPIDS• A concentrated source of energy• Store other nutrients, such as Vitamin A• Protect vital organs• Help keep our skin from drying out• Insulate the body against changes in

environmental temperature

*The body uses lipids to make cell membranes, hormones and the oils in your skin and hair

Note the molecular structure’s “E” shape

Note the molecular structure’s “E” shape

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made up ofmade up of

glycerol

glycerol

3 fatty acids

3 fatty acids

and

and

LIPIDS• Saturated fats: have no double bonds between

the carbons and contain max number of hydrogen atoms-usually solid at room temperature, most come from animal products

• Unsaturated fats: fats with double bonds-most are liquid at room temperature, come from plants (usually referred to as oils)

*Monounsaturated – one double bond *Polyunsaturated – many double bonds

PROTEINS•COMPOSED OF SMALLER MOLECULES CALLED AMINO ACIDS

• CONTAIN NITROGEN, CARBON, HYDROGEN & OXYGEN•MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF THE DRY

WEIGHT OF ORGANISMS

PROTEINS

• Provide body with materials needed for growth and repair

• Builds muscles, skin and blood

• Complete: contain all 8 essential a.a. (food that comes from animals)

• Incomplete: lack some of the essential a.a. (food that comes from plants)

PROTEINS

Include: • enzymes that promote chemical

reactions• structural functions such as collagen

in skin, ligaments, tendons, and bones• proteins found in muscles and hair• antibodies – fight infection by killing

bacteria• Hemoglobin - carries oxygen in blood

NUCLEIC ACIDS•LARGE COMPLEX MOLECULES CONTAINING HEREDITY MATERIAL1. DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID -D N A

2. RIBONUCLEIC ACID- R N A

•D N A CARRIES INSTRUCTIONS THAT REGULATE CELL ACTIVITIES

•R N A –uses information from DNA to tell the ribosomes what proteins to make.

NucleicAcids• Made up of nucleotides containing a sugar,

a phosphate, and a Nitrogen base

Includes:

*Adenine

*Thymine

*Guanine

*Cytosine

sugar

phosphate

nitrogen base

Monomers (subunits)

• Carbohydrates- Monosaccharides (sugars)

• Proteins- Amino Acids• Lipids- Glycerol and fatty acids• Nucleic acids- Nucleotides