The Chemistry of Life Anatomy and Physiology

Hierarchy of Structures Rattlebox Moth (Ex.)Rattlebox Moth OrganOrgan –Ex. flight muscle TissuesTissues –Ex. muscle tissue CellCell –Ex. muscle cell OrganellesOrganelles –Ex. myofibril MoleculesMolecules –Ex. actin and myosin

So, what elements make up the molecules of life? The Star of the Show

Why Study Carbon? All of life is built on carbon Cells –~72% H 2 O –~25% carbon compounds carbohydrates lipids proteins nucleic acids –~3% salts and trace elements Na, Cl, K…

Chemistry of Life Organic chemistry is the study of carbon compounds Carbon atoms are versatile building blocks –Forms 4 stable covalent bonds –Can form large ring, chain, or branching chain structures. –Can form double and triple bonds between two carbons HH C H H

Valence electrons – are the electrons in the outermost shell of an atom. Valence – refers to the number of covalent bonds an atom of an element can form: C is 4 H is 1 O is 2 N is 3 Ex. H2O, CH4, C2H2, C2H4

CarbohydratesCarbohydrates LipidsLipids ProteinsProteins Nucleic acidsNucleic acids 4 types of Macromolecules and our body gets them/builds them from food and water

Macromolecules compounds of life carbon framework (organic)carbon framework (organic) they are polymers made of repeating subunits called monomers.they are polymers made of repeating subunits called monomers. –poly means many –meros means part –mono means single –So what do the words polymer, monomer, and macromolecule mean? –Like “pearls on a necklace” Macro- means very, very LARGE

Carbohydrates are polysacharrides These are all SUGARS Monomers (subunits)Monomers (subunits) –Simple sugars a.k.a monosaccharides FUNCTIONS 1)quick energy a) starch in plants b) glycogen in animals 2) structures such as 1) cellulose (plant cell walls) 2) chitin (exoskeleton of insects) Glucose – simple sugar made by plants during photosynthesis

Simple & complex sugars Monosaccharides –simple 1 monomer sugars –glucose Disaccharides –2 monomers –sucrose Polysaccharides –large polymers –starch OH H H HO CH 2 OH H H H OH O Glucose

Some Carbohydrates (polymer “necklaces” made of monomer glucose “pearls”)

Monomer subunitsMonomer subunits –Amino acids –There are –There are 20+ Here are a few of many, many functions: 1) Peptide Hormones regulate homeostasis ex. Insulin 2) Structures ex. bone, hair, muscle, horns, webs 2) Structures ex. bone, hair, muscle, horns, webs 3) Enzymes – catalysts for biochemical reactions. (lowers energy needed for reactions to start) 4) Genetic regulation (turns genes on and off) 5) Transport ex. hemoglobin in rbc carries O 2 Proteins

Proteins Structure –monomer = amino acids 20 different amino acids –polymer = polypeptide protein can be one or more polypeptide chains folded & bonded together large & complex 3D molecules hemoglobin growth hormones

Nucleic Acids the information molecules Monomer subunitsMonomer subunits –Nucleotides FunctionFunction Carries information Carries information HeredityHeredity Genes provide directionsGenes provide directions to make proteins to make proteinsExamples DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid RNA = ribonucleic acid

Nucleotides have three parts: a phosphate, sugar, and a base (A, G, C, T, or U)

proteins DNA Nucleic Acids Function: –genetic material stores information –genes –blueprint for building proteins »DNA  RNA  proteins transfers information –blueprint for new cells –blueprint for next generation

Lipids Lipids are composed of C, H, O –long hydrocarbon chains (H-C) “Family groups” –fats –phospholipids –Steroids Do not form polymers –big molecules made of smaller subunits –not a continuing chain

Lipids - all have hydrophobic properties “water fearing” Functions / examples: 1) Fats STORE energy (these have “long-tail” fatty acids) 2) Steroids for hormonal regulation Ex. estrogen and testosterone 3) Structures Ex. p make up the cell membrane Ex. phospholipids make up the cell membrane Ex. waxes for waterproofing - such as (a) cuticle on leaves (b) earwax

Saturated Fats All C bonded to H No C=C double bonds –long, straight chain –most animal fats –solid at room temp. contributes to cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis) = plaque deposits

Unsaturated Fats C=C double bonds in the fatty acids –plant & fish fats –vegetable oils –liquid at room temperature the kinks made by double bonded C prevent the molecules from packing tightly together mono-unsaturated? poly-unsaturated?

saturated vs. unsaturated saturatedunsaturated

Phospholipids make up the cell membrane

Hydrophilic heads “attracted” to H 2 O - they will “flip” outward Hydrophobic tails “hide” from H 2 O - they will flip inward bilayer Water (outside the cell) Water (inside the cell)

Another lipid: Steroids Structure: –4 fused C rings + ?? different steroids created by attaching different functional groups to rings different structure creates different function –examples: cholesterol, sex hormones cholesterol

MATCHING Which group A represents 1) carbohydrates? 2) nucleic acids? 3) proteins? B 4) lipids? C C D