1. The Building Blocks of Life
Biomolecules
The Building Blocks of Life

2. Biomolecules are Organic Molecules- contains Carbon bonds
Molecules containing Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, and often Oxygen.
They make up living organisms
Examples: Methane (CH4) Glucose (C6H12O6) are all organic molecules

3. Biomolecules
Basic Molecule: Proteins, Carbohydrates (sugars and starch), Lipids (Fats), Nucleic Acid (DNA, RNA)
Macromolecule: Large molecules of the above that can be broken down.
Ex. Starch made of many sugars

4. Biomolecules
Subunits: The smaller molecules that are the building blocks of macro molecules
Sugars that make up starch or cellulose
Amino Acids that make up Proteins
Fatty acids and glycerol make up lipids

5. Carbohydrate Simple vs. Complex sugars Simple sugars:
Monosaccharide:
“One” “Sugar”
We will focus on glucose: C6H1206
The basic source of organism energy
DRAW THIS MOLECULE
Of GLUCOSE

6. Simple Sugars:Carbohydrates
Disaccharide
“Two” “Sugars”
Examples:
Table sugar: Sucrose=
Glucose + Fructose
Maltose=
Glucose + Glucose

7. Complex Sugars: Polysaccharide
Poly “many”, Saccharide “sugars”
Functions: Cells use them for energy and structure.
They allow organisms to gradually use energy since it is stored in a large structure. (like money in a bank)

8. Complex Sugars: Polysaccharide
Starch : has thousands of glucoses (sugars) bonded together
………Thousands

9. Complex Sugars: Polysaccharides
Cellulose: Makes up the walls of plant cells. Also made from glucose.
Ruminants (cattle, sheep) can digest both cellulose and glucose.
Humans can digest starch, but not cellulose
WHY??????????

11. Polysaccharides
Glycogen: Animals store carbohydrates (glucose) in the form of glycogen; similar in form to starch. Why????
This is why…
This is our reserve energy
Stored in liver and muscles
We do not want to lose our carbs all at once!!

12. Proteins Made of Amino Acid Chains
Amino Acids are bonded through a peptide bond

13. Each ball is
An Amino
Acid.
Bonded by
Peptide
Bonds
There are 20
Amino Acids

14. There are 20 different occurring amino acids

15. Protein Function Building material: muscle, hair, fingernails
Enzymes: Help with chemical reaction in the cells and body (catalyst)
Immunity: make up antibodies
Other specific functions such as Hemoglobin: carry O2 in red blood cells

16. Examples of Protein Structures The shape of protein is important to its function.
Enzyme: Quaternary Structure

17. Lipids (Fats)
A common lipid is made of 3 fatty acids chains connected to a glycerol

18. Lipids (Fats) Glycerol: a type of alcohol. The back bone of Fats.
3 Fatty acid chains: Long chains of C & H
Saturated=as many C & H bonded as possible (Solid at Room Temp.) ex. Lard!!
Unsaturated= C and C bonds can be double (usually Liquid at Room Temp.) ex. Corn oil

19. Lipids (Fats) Functions
The main energy storing molecule because of the high # of carbon to carbon bonds. Why are bonds important?
…because they Store chemical energy
Lipids store more energy than any other biomolecule
9 Cal/gram = lipids
4 Cal/gram = carbohydrates and proteins

20. Lipids (Fats) Functions
Insulate and protect
Main molecule of the Cell membrane
Make up some hormones (testosterone)

21. Nucleic Acids
Large organic molecules that determine the genetic traits of an organism.
Small units of Nucleic Acids are called nucleotides which are made of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen
When nucleotides bond with sugar and phosphates, they form DNA and RNA

23. ?Questions? What type of bond connects Amino Acids?
What are lipids composed of?
What are three of the macromolecules of carbohydrates? What is the sugar subunit?
What are the four types of elements that make up biomolecules?