Molecular Composition of Life Modified by Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office July, 2002

When someone says “That’s an organic material.” What do they mean? Molecular Composition of Life

When someone says “That’s an organic material.” what do they mean? It is a material that contains CARBON. Molecular Composition of Life

4 most common types of organics carbohydrates lipids proteins nucleic acids Molecular Composition of Life

6 key elements carbon hydrogen nitrogen oxygen phosphorus sulfur Molecular Composition of Life

Carbohydrates carbo = carbon hydrate = with water sub-units are sugars (mono- di-) always have 2x as many H as C & O e.g., CH 2 O or C 6 H 12 O 6 -OH and -C=O groups love water sugar dissolves in water, right? Molecular Composition of Life

Carbohydrates ring and chain forms ring when in water sugars transported: in humans by glucose in plants by sucrose storage: starch and glycogen Molecular Composition of Life

H OH H H H H CH 2 OH H OH H H CH 2 OH H 2 COH O H Glucose Fructose

Molecular Composition of Life H OH H H H H CH 2 OH H OH H H CH 2 OH H 2 COH O H Glucose Fructose

Molecular Composition of Life H OH H H H H CH 2 OH H OH H H CH 2 OH H 2 COH O H + Glucose Fructose Dehydration synthesis

Molecular Composition of Life H OH H H H H2OH2O H CH 2 OH H OH H H CH 2 OH H 2 COH O Sucrose + water

Molecular Composition of Life H OH H H H H CH 2 OH H OH H H CH 2 OH H 2 COH O H H2OH2O Hydrolysis

Molecular Composition of Life Carbohydrates cellulose is also a polysaccharide most abundant organic link to global change research structural purpose we can not digest cellulose microorganisms can see fig 2.2 in text (amazing!!)

Molecular Composition of Life Lipids consist of a glycerol + 3 fatty acids high energy content water hating - “oil & water don’t mix” saturated vs unsaturated fats sat = “bad”, unsat = “good” kinking and melting point

Molecular Composition of Life Lipids phospholipids and membranes phosphate group water loving and soluble fatty acids water hating and insoluble causes autoarranging in water

Molecular Composition of Life Proteins created from amino acid “legos” amino acids amino group (-NH2) carboxyl group (-COOH) unique side group linked by polypeptide bonds can be denatured enzymes are proteins

Molecular Composition of Life Nucleic Acids created from nucleotide “legos” nucleotide =sugar + nitrogenous base + phosphate group if sugar is ribose, then RNA if sugar is deoxyribose, then DNA deoxy = less one oxygen

Molecular Composition of Life Nucleic Acids ATP vs ADP ATP has 3 phosphate groups ADP has 2 binding P groups requires energy cleaving P groups releases energy

Molecular Composition of Life Secondary Metabolites where we get the cool stuff!! Defense strategies (herbivory) healing processes stored in vacuoles (lignin in cell walls) usually produced by one part at certain time

Molecular Composition of Life Secondary Metabolites Three classes Alkaloids - drugs Terpenoids - oils, rubber, hormones, drugs Phenolics - lignin, pigments