What our bodies are made of Chemistry of Cells

Nature of Matter All matter is made of atoms. Atoms consist of electrons, protons and neutrons. Molecules are groups of atoms linked by covalent bonds Hydrogen bonding occurs between polar molecules An ion is a charged atom or molecule. Ions of opposite charge may form an ionic bond

Chemistry of Cells Organic Compounds are compounds containing carbon Organic compounds include – carbohydrates, –lipids, –proteins, and –nucleic acids

Chemistry of Cells Carbohydrates, such as glucose, are a source of energy and are used as structural materials in cells.

Chemistry of Cells Lipids are non-polar molecules that store energy and are an important part of cell membranes

Proteins Proteins are chains of amino acids. The sequence of amino acids determines the protein’s shape and specific function

Chemistry of Cells Nucleic Acids store and transmit hereditary information DNA and RNA are the two main types of nucleic acid

Chemistry of Cells Nucleotides are the building blocks of nucleic acids ATP is the main energy currency of cells The structure of ATP is similar to that of nucleotides

Energy & Chemical Reactions Chemical reactions absorb or release energy The energy required to start a reaction is called the activation energy

Energy & Chemical Reactions Enzymes speed up chemical reactions by decreasing the activation energy of the reactions

Energy & Chemical Reactions Each enzyme binds only specific molecules The molecule(s) that an enzyme binds to is/are called that enzyme’s substrate

Energy & Chemical Reactions Factors such as temperature and acidity affect enzyme activity Our body has to maintain homeostasis so that our enzymes function properly