Building Blocks of Life Biology Building Blocks of Life

Definitions for Section 7 Carbohydrate Monosaccharide Lipid Protein Amino acid Nucleic Acid Nucleotide

Biomolecules Molecules that contain carbon are called organic molecules All life on Earth contains carbon Other elements found in life include CHONPS

4 major classes of biomolecules Carbohydrates Lipids Proteins Nucleic Acids

Carbs CARBOHYDRATES: Compounds composed of C, H, and O in a 1:2:1 ratio MONOSACCHARIDES: Simple sugars that are the building blocks of carbohydrates Glucose is a monosaccharide Plays central role in cellular energy Two monosaccharides, such as glucose and fructose, can join to form something like sucrose (table sugar) made of

Longer chains can form, making complex carbs Glycogen (animals) and starch (plants) store energy Cellulose provides support for plant cells (cell walls)

Carbs are used for structure and energy Chitin makes up exoskeletons of arthropods Sugars can be identified by the ending –ose Sucrose, fructose, lactose Carbs are used for structure and energy

Grease is Good LIPIDS: Molecules made mostly of carbon and hydrogen with few oxygen Includes fats, oils, and waxes Main building blocks are FATTY ACIDS Long chains of 4-28 carbons with attached hydrogens Lipids important for structure, energy storage (2x energy of carbs (VERY IMPORTANT!))

Other important lipids include Phospholipids (discussed in chapter 7) Sterols Include cholesterol and the hormones estrogen and testosterone

Proteins PROTEIN: Compound made of small carbon compounds called AMINO ACIDS Building blocks of proteins Contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulfur Made of long chains of thousands of amino acids bent into certain shapes

Sequence of amino acids and shape of protein determines function!!! Changing the shape of the protein affects its function REMEMBER: STRUCTURE DETERMINES FUNCTION Proteins used for structure, transport, cell growth, and building/breaking down substances, and energy

Special class of proteins called enzymes Important proteins include: Hemoglobin in red blood cells which picks up oxygen (VERY IMPORTANT) Keratin, which makes fingernails, hair, scales, feathers Special class of proteins called enzymes

Who Am I? NUCLEIC ACIDS: Macromolecules that store and transmit genetic information NUCLEOTIDES: Building blocks of nucleic acids Contain carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen and phosphorus Include DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid) Main purpose is to carry information ADENINE (A)

Section 4 Assignment Create a table of the FOUR biomolecules. Be sure to include in your table the type of biomolecule, their functions, elements contained within, building blocks, and 2 examples of each (not necessary to be too specific). If you were given a chemical formula of an unknown substance, how could you tell if it was a carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid? Give me a reason for each major biomolecule. Then identify each of these chemical formulas as carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid. C3H7NO2S, C5H5N5PO4, C13H30O3, C12H22O11 How do organisms such as ourselves get the carbon, nitrogen, and other important elements?

Section 4 Assignment Create a table of the FOUR biomolecules. Be sure to include in your table the type of biomolecule, their functions, elements contained within, building blocks, and 2 examples of each (not necessary to be too specific). If you were given a chemical formula of an unknown substance, how could you tell if it was a carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid? Give me a reason for each major biomolecule. Then identify each of these chemical formulas as carb, lipid, protein, or nucleic acid. C3H7NO2S, C5H5N5PO4, C13H30O3, C12H22O11 How do organisms such as ourselves get the carbon, nitrogen, and other important elements?