Life’s Important Biological Molecules The molecules that make up your cells

To Review - Life-supporting Properties of Water n Cooling Agent –evaporation n Surface Tension –Cohesion, adhesion n Universal Solvent –Allows for dissolving and transporting of materials n More dense than ice –Ice causes cells to burst caused by hydrogen bonds between water molecules

What are life’s 4 major organic molecules? -Organic means it has carbon in it! n Carbohydrates (sugars & starches) n Lipids (fats, oils, & waxes) n Proteins (enzymes & connective tissue) n Nucleic Acids (DNA & RNA)

Monomers and Polymers Monomers – single repeating subunits (like lego’s or the cars of a train) Polymers – long chains of repeating monomers (the whole train)

How do monomers combine to make polymers? n As 2 monomers combine: –An -H is taken off of one monomer –An –OH is taken off of the other monomer n The 2 monomers combine to begin making a chain (polymer) n The –H and –OH combine to make HOH or H 2 O

Carbohydrates n Carbohydrates – made from subunits (monomers) called monosaccharides –2 monosaccharides combine to make a disaccharide –Notice that water is also formed.

A carbohydrate is a molecule that always has a 1:2:1 ratio of Carbons to Hydrogens to Oxygens The structure of carbohydrates C n H 2n O n Examples: glucose and fructose are both: C 6 H 12 O 6

Complex carbs - called starches Polysaccharides - many monosaccharide subunits. (ie. cellulose, glycogen) The structure of carbohydrates Simple carbs – called sugars monosaccharide (mah noh SA kuh ride). (ie. glucose, fructose) Disaccharide – sucrose, lactose

Function of Carbs n Carbohydrates are used by cells for energy –Sugars – give immediate  energy  –Starches – give energy in hours 

Fatty Acids – subunits of lipids Fatty acids – long chains of carbon and hydrogen

Lipids n Lipids are used by cells for long-term energy storage (not use) –Also used for: n Making cell membranes n Insulation of organs

Lipids n They do not dissolve in water because they are nonpolar (not attracted to water molecules).

Proteins n Proteins – long chains of monomers (subunits) called Amino Acids –There are 20 different amino acids found in nature.

Function of Proteins n Proteins are used by the body to make most connective tissue: –Bones, muscle, ligaments, tendons, skin, hair, nails n Proteins also serve to regulate all reactions in the body –Enzymes & hormones

Enzymes & Hormones n Enzyme - a protein that speeds up chemical reactions n Hormone – a protein that is made in one place of the body and directs an action in another place

Nucleic Acids n stores genetic information in the form of a code. n Nucleic acids are polymers made of smaller subunits called nucleotides.

DNA & RNA n DNA -deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid n The information coded in DNA contains instructions used to make proteins for the organism. n Another important nucleic acid is RNA, which stands for ribonucleic acid.

Nucleotides Made of 3 parts: Sugar, phosphate group, and a nitrogen base