Organic Compounds: Biomolecules

I. Chemistry of Carbon A. Carbon has 4 valence e- B. Carbon can form 4 strong covalent bonds with atoms such as H, O, P, S C. Carbon has a very wide versatility since it can bond with other Carbon atoms

II. Macromolecules A. Macromolecules: molecules that are made from several smaller molecules i.e. “giant molecule” B. Macromolecules are formed by the process of polymerization Monomers: 1 small unit Polymers: more than 1 small unit

III. Groups of Biomolecules A all living things are made up of 4 organic compounds: Carbohydrates Lipids Nucleic acids Proteins

IV. Carbohydrates A. Compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen usually in the ratio of 1:2:1 B. These compounds are mainly used for energy in animals and structural support for plants C. Main structure unit is glucose D. Complex structure is starch ex. Pasta, Potato

IV. Carbohydrates E. Monosaccharide: single sugar molecules Glucose Galactose (found in milk) Fructose (found in fruit) F. Disaccharide: 2 monosaccharides Lactose (glucose+ galactose) Maltose (glucose + glucose) Sucrose (glucose + frutose) G. Polysaccharide: many monosaccharides Glycogen (stored in our liver) Cellulose ( plant starch)

V. Lipids A. Compounds made mostly of carbon and hydrogen and are insoluble in water B. Used to store energy and are important parts of biological membranes C. Main structure: Glycerol combined with fatty acid chains (long chain of C and H)

V Lipids D. 2 groups of Lipids: Saturated: only single bonds between carbon Solid at room temperature Unsaturated: at least one double bond between carbon Liquid at room temperature Polyunsaturated: many double bonds E. Lipids are categorized into fats, oils, and waxes

VI. Nucleic Acids A. Macromolecules containing hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorous B. Nucleic acids store and transmit genetic information Two kinds: DNA & RNA C. Main structure: Nucleotides (monomer) What is that?!?!?

D. Nucleotides are composed of 3 parts 5-carbon sugar Phosphate group Nitrogenous base

VII. Proteins A. Macromolecules composed of nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. B. Proteins control rate of reactions and regulate cell processes. Some used to form bones and muscles, others transport material. 1. Most proteins act as enzymes which speed up reactions by lowering the activation energy.

C. Main structure unit (monomer): amino acid Structure that is composed of an amino group (-NH₂) and one carboxyl group (-COOH) D. More than 20 different amino acids are found in nature The sequence when amino acids join together determine the function of the protein E. 4 levels of organization: 1st: sequence of amino acids 2nd: twisting of chain 3rd: folding of the chain on itself 4th: arrangement in space

VIII. Regulation of Enzyme Activity A. All Enzymes: 1. Fit one specific type of substrate (think lock and key) 2. Work best around normal human body temperature 3. Can be influenced by a change in pH 4. Increase activity with increasing amounts of substrate