Biochemistry The Chemistry of LIFE

Atoms The smallest unit of matter

Element: substance made of only one type of atom The Periodic Table lists all known elements

The 4 most common elements in living organisms are: Carbon- C Hydrogen- H Oxygen- O Nitrogen- N

Compound: substance formed by 2 or more elements in definite proportions H 2 O: Water H 2 O 2 : hydrogen peroxide NaCl: salt C 6 H 12 O 6 : glucose (sugar)

Inorganic Compound Derived from abiotic sources: in volcanoes, from rocks,mineral springs

Organic Compound Derived from biotic sources Contains one or more Carbon atoms 4 groups: Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids

THIEVES pgs I: figure nd E: pg. 48, 1-4

Carbohydrates Compounds of C, H and O in a 1:2:1 ratio Base unit (monomer) is the monosaccharide or simple sugar Chains (polymers) of sugars form polysaccharides or complex carbohydrates Function in energy storage and structure

Monosaccharide- Glucose, Fructose, Maltose

Polysaccharides Starch- straight chains of sugars potatoes Cellulose- long, woven chains of sugars Grass, the paper you are writing on

Lipids Fatty compounds of long C-H tails with O Don’t dissolve in water Includes fats, oils and waxes Function in energy storage and insulation, cell membranes

Proteins Compounds of C, H, O and N Base unit is Amino Acid Long chains of Amino Acids form a protein or polypeptide Function in structure, transport, enzymes, signaling

Enzymes Proteins that carry out chemical reactions Speed up reactions more than a million times

Nucleic Acids Complex compounds that store information Base unit is the nucleotide Long chains of nucleotides form DNA and RNA

Enzymes, cont’d. Chemical reaction: process that changes one set of chemicals into another set of chemicals Your body is doing millions of these to keep you alive (digesting food, breathing out CO 2 as a gas rather than a liquid) Enzyme:special proteins that speed up or catalyze chemical reactions in cells

Enzymes in your saliva break down starches into simple sugars Place the Saltine on your tongue and allow it to dissolve for the rest of note- taking Do not chew it, do not swallow it, just let it begin to break down Hypothesis: How do you think it will taste in ~10 minutes?

Enzymes are specific to the reaction they speed up Different enzymes work best at different temperatures & pH (acid/base) levels Denature: when exposed to extreme environmental conditions (like a very high fever), enzymes lose their shape and don’t work anymore Caused by major temp change or pH shift

Example of denaturing a protein Fried egg Protein is permanently changed in shape You can’t uncook an egg!

XC Write-your-own Review 10 Questions & Answers on your notes (Organic Compounds & Enzymes) 5 Questions & Answers from your Organic Compound Lab (hint: what chemicals test for what compound?) 3 Questions & Answers from the Enzyme Lab Total: 18 points if complete!!