The Chemistry of Life

Water Properties of water Polar~ opposite ends, opposite charges Polar~ opposite ends, opposite charges Cohesion~ water sticks to water Cohesion~ water sticks to water Adhesion~ water sticks to something else Adhesion~ water sticks to something else Capillary Action ~ Cohesion PLUS Adhesion… how water moves UP a plant Capillary Action ~ Cohesion PLUS Adhesion… how water moves UP a plant

Surface tension Surface tension (high) Specific heat (high) Specific heat (high) Heat of vaporization (high) Heat of vaporization Density: Ice is LESS DENSE than liquid water… why ice floats! Due to H bonding Density: Ice is LESS DENSE than liquid water… why ice floats! Due to H bonding

Organic Compounds Contain CARBON Contain CARBON In science terms, organic means carbon-containing In science terms, organic means carbon-containing Are POLYMERS* Are POLYMERS* Polymers are composed of monomers Polymers are composed of monomers *Lipids are not polymers… are not composed of monomers. *Lipids are not polymers… are not composed of monomers.

Polymer Mono = one Mono = one Poly = many Poly = many Polymers are to macaroni necklaces as monomers are to macaroni Polymers are to macaroni necklaces as monomers are to macaroni polymer monomer

Huh? Carbs, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids are all made up of repeating subunits. Carbs, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids are all made up of repeating subunits. Lipids are a special case Lipids are a special case

Carbohydrates Examples: Examples: Sugars (simple carbs) and starches (complex carbs) Sugars (simple carbs) and starches (complex carbs) Glucose, fructose, sucrose, ribose, deoxyribose, cellulose, potatoes, pastas, glycogen (how animals store energy) Glucose, fructose, sucrose, ribose, deoxyribose, cellulose, potatoes, pastas, glycogen (how animals store energy)

Carbohydrates structure = Rings or long chains of rings structure = Rings or long chains of rings

Carbohydrates Elements: Elements: Carbon, Hydrogen,Oxygen – CHO Carbon, Hydrogen,Oxygen – CHO H:O ratio = 2:1 H:O ratio = 2:1 For every 2 H’s, there is one O For every 2 H’s, there is one O Glucose = C 6 H 12 O 6 … 12:6 = 2:1 Glucose = C 6 H 12 O 6 … 12:6 = 2:1 Cellulose = (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n … 10:5 = 2:1 Cellulose = (C 6 H 10 O 5 ) n … 10:5 = 2:1

Carbohydrates Monomer: monosaccharide Monomer: monosaccharide Mono = ONE Mono = ONE Di = TWO Di = TWO Poly = MANY Poly = MANY Sucrose is a disaccharide made of glucose PLUS fructose Sucrose is a disaccharide made of glucose PLUS fructose Cellulose is a polysaccharide made of up to 10,000 connected D-glucose molecules Cellulose is a polysaccharide made of up to 10,000 connected D-glucose molecules

Carbohydrates FUNCTION: quick energy FUNCTION: quick energy Sugars = simple  very quick energy Sugars = simple  very quick energy Ex: OJ if blood sugar is low Ex: OJ if blood sugar is low Starches = complex carbohydrate  takes longer for body to break down… longer term energy source Starches = complex carbohydrate  takes longer for body to break down… longer term energy source Ex: Before a football game, eat pasta or cereal Ex: Before a football game, eat pasta or cereal

Lipids Examples: Fats, oils, waxes, steroids, fat- soluble vitamins (A, D, K, E), triglycerides, cholesterol Examples: Fats, oils, waxes, steroids, fat- soluble vitamins (A, D, K, E), triglycerides, cholesterol Butter, olive oil, cell membranes (phospholipids) Butter, olive oil, cell membranes (phospholipids)

Lipids Structure: 2 or 3 long H-C tails Structure: 2 or 3 long H-C tails

Lipids Elements: CHO Elements: CHO Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen H:O ratio is >2:1 H:O ratio is >2:1 Ex: Vitamin E (tocopherol) = C 29 H 50 O 2 so the H:O ratio = 50:2 = 25:1 which is GREATER THAN 2:1 Ex: Vitamin E (tocopherol) = C 29 H 50 O 2 so the H:O ratio = 50:2 = 25:1 which is GREATER THAN 2:1

Lipids Monomer: Not Applicable (N/A) Monomer: Not Applicable (N/A) Most lipids have a glycerol or carboxylic acid “head” and fatty acid “tails”… so they all more or less look alike, but no official monomer. Most lipids have a glycerol or carboxylic acid “head” and fatty acid “tails”… so they all more or less look alike, but no official monomer.

Lipids Function: Long term energy storage Function: Long term energy storage Ex: The human body converts excess glucose (sugar) into fat. Ex: The human body converts excess glucose (sugar) into fat. What’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong with this picture?

Carbs vs. Lipids BOTH have CHO BOTH have CHO BOTH store energy BOTH store energy Carbs: quick energy Carbs: quick energy Lipids: long term energy  storage Lipids: long term energy  storage Excess carbs get turned into fat for storage Excess carbs get turned into fat for storage How can you differentiate between carbs and lipids??? How can you differentiate between carbs and lipids???

Carbohydrate or Lipid? Formula: C 18 H 34 O 2 Formula: C 18 H 34 O 2

Carbohydrate or Lipid? Formula = C 12 H 22 O 11 Formula = C 12 H 22 O 11

Carbohydrate or Lipid? Formula: C 27 H 46 O Formula: C 27 H 46 O

Carbohydrate or Lipid? Formula: C 12 H 24 O 2 Formula: C 12 H 24 O 2

Carbohydrate or Lipid? Formula: C 6 H 10 O 5 Formula: C 6 H 10 O 5

Proteins Examples: Insulin, keratin, casein, ENZYMES (catalase, amylase, lactase…) Examples: Insulin, keratin, casein, ENZYMES (catalase, amylase, lactase…) Found in meats, dairy products, eggs, and some plants (nuts, lentils, and legumes such as beans, peas, soy…) Found in meats, dairy products, eggs, and some plants (nuts, lentils, and legumes such as beans, peas, soy…)

Proteins Structure: complex chain of linked amino acids (peptide bond links AA’s) Structure: complex chain of linked amino acids (peptide bond links AA’s) polypeptide = precursor to protein polypeptide = precursor to protein

Proteins Elements: CHON (sometimes S) Elements: CHON (sometimes S) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, NITROGEN (complex proteins have disulfide bridges… hence Sulfur) Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, NITROGEN (complex proteins have disulfide bridges… hence Sulfur) H:O ratio – N/A H:O ratio – N/A

Proteins Monomer: AMINO ACIDS Monomer: AMINO ACIDS A long chain of AA’s = a polypeptide… why? A long chain of AA’s = a polypeptide… why? Peptide bonds connect AA’s Peptide bonds connect AA’s Proteins are just folded polypeptides Proteins are just folded polypeptides Proteins are made of… Proteins are made of…

20 essential amino acids

AA’s connected by peptide bond

Proteins Function: structure (actin, chitin), catalyzing reactions (enzymes lower activation energy), repair and maintenance Function: structure (actin, chitin), catalyzing reactions (enzymes lower activation energy), repair and maintenance

Nucleic Acids Examples: DNA, RNA (tRNA, mRNA, rRNA)… NA stands for Nucleic Acid Examples: DNA, RNA (tRNA, mRNA, rRNA)… NA stands for Nucleic Acid Found in ALL LIVING THINGS!! Found in ALL LIVING THINGS!! In the NUCLEUS of eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants, animals) In the NUCLEUS of eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants, animals) Free-floating in prokaryotes (bacteria) Free-floating in prokaryotes (bacteria)

Nucleic Acids Structure: single stranded (RNA) or double stranded (DNA) Structure: single stranded (RNA) or double stranded (DNA) DNA: ATCG DNA: ATCG RNA: AUCG RNA: AUCG

Nucleic Acids Elements: CHONP Elements: CHONP Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, PHOSPHORUS Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, PHOSPHORUS H:O ratio: N/A H:O ratio: N/A

Nucleic Acids Monomer: Nucleotide Monomer: Nucleotide Nucleotide = phosphate group, nitrogen base, 5-carbon sugar Nucleotide = phosphate group, nitrogen base, 5-carbon sugar Phosphate group : P Phosphate group : P Nitrogen base: N Nitrogen base: N A, T, C, G, U (RNA only) A, T, C, G, U (RNA only) 5 Carbon sugar: CHO 5 Carbon sugar: CHO Sugar is a carb… CHO Sugar is a carb… CHO Deoxyribose or ribose Deoxyribose or ribose

Nucleic Acids Function: Heredity Function: Heredity Stores ALL genetic information Stores ALL genetic information Codes for proteins  responsible for expressed traits Codes for proteins  responsible for expressed traits

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Provides rigid structure for plant cells Provides rigid structure for plant cells Made of long chain of monosaccharides Made of long chain of monosaccharides

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Genes are made of this Genes are made of this Long, complex molecule containing CHONP Long, complex molecule containing CHONP

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Main component of cell membranes Main component of cell membranes

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Monomer: nucleotide Monomer: nucleotide

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Amino Acids are connected by peptide bonds Amino Acids are connected by peptide bonds This macromolecule is HUGE and complex This macromolecule is HUGE and complex

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Simple ones end in –ose Simple ones end in –ose Complex ones are broken down to simple ones to power cellular respiration (and make ATP) Complex ones are broken down to simple ones to power cellular respiration (and make ATP) That’s why you eat!!! That’s why you eat!!!

Carb, Lipid, Protein, or Nucleic Acid? Elements: CHO Elements: CHO H:O ratio is >2:1 H:O ratio is >2:1

Enzymes Enzymes are Enzymes are PROTEINS PROTEINS Biological catalysts Biological catalysts Speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy Speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy Substrate-specific (like a lock and a key) Substrate-specific (like a lock and a key) Reusable Reusable Ends in –ase Ends in –ase Affected by temperature and pH Affected by temperature and pH

Enzymes Proteins Proteins

Enzymes Speed up rxns (catalyze rxns) by lowering activation energy Speed up rxns (catalyze rxns) by lowering activation energy Higher concentration of enzyme = faster reaction Higher concentration of enzyme = faster reaction

Enzymes Substrate-specific (like a lock and key) Substrate-specific (like a lock and key) Reusable Reusable End in -ase End in -ase

Crash Course Biomolecules Biomolecules Biomolecules