Major Organic Molecules

Carbohydrates Includes both sugars and their polymers. Polymer building blocks: simple sugars called monosaccharides General function: source of quick energy and building material

Types of Carbohydrates Monosaccharides – 3-6 carbon sugars, major energy source for cells. Ex. Glucose Also provides raw materials to build other organic compounds

Types of Carbohydrates Disaccharides – “two sugars” formed by bonding 2 monosaccharides by a dehydration synthesis reaction(remove water). ex. Glucose + fructose sucrose monomonodisaccharide table sugar

Types of Carbohydrates Polysaccharides – polymers of a few hundred to a few 1,000 monosaccharides.

Types of Carbohydrates Important Examples: Cellulose (polymers of glucose) Major structural component of cell wall in plants. Ex. Wood Glycogen – storage polymer in animals Starch – storage polymer in plants

Lipids Contain C, H, O and other elements. Ex. phosphorus, nitrogen H to O ration is greater than 2 to 1 Insoluble in water (non-polar) Dissolve in non-polar solvents. Ex. Benzene General functions: energy storage, major component of membranes in eukaryotic cells

Types of Lipids Phospholipids – composed of glycerol, 2 fatty acids, phosphate group. Structural units of cell membrane.

Types of Lipids Steroids – composed of 4 fused rings and functional groups; serve as hormones (ex. cholesterol); stabilize animal cell membrane

Types of Lipids Triglycerides – composed of 3 fatty acids and a glycerol; store energy in animals as adipose tissue

Proteins Composed of C, O, H, N. Major components of animals, polymer building blocks are amino acids Polymer building blocks: amino acids. Amino acids are bonded by peptide bond to form polypeptide chains (proteins) Skeletal structure of amino acids (Draw this!!!)

Proteins General function: Enzymes Structural components Defense Signaling (chemical messages)

Important Examples of Protein Enzymes – catalyst Collagen – tendons, ligaments Keratin – hair Fibrin – blood clotting Fibrin

Protein Structure Primary structure: the number, order and type of amino acids in a polypeptide chain Secondary structure: bending or twisting of polypeptides due to the hydrogen bonding. 1.α – helix (alpha) – like a spiral staircase 2.β structure – ex. silk is a β pleated sheet (stacked sheets)

Protein Structure Tertiary structure: folding of polypeptide chains to form specific spatial patterns. Folding due to hydrogen, hydrophobic and/or Vander Waal’s forces. R-group is responsible

Protein Structure Quaternary structure: arrangement of several polypeptides into a 3D shape.

Nucleic Acids Linear strand of nucleotide polymers (C, O, H, N, P) General function: store genetic information, help in protein synthesis Important examples: DNA, RNA (various types)