1. Chapter 2, Section 3 Dr. Steve W. Altstiel Naples High School
Chemistry of Cells
Chapter 2, Section 3
Dr. Steve W. Altstiel
Naples High School

2. Objectives: Summarize the characteristics of organic compounds.
Compare the structure and function of different types of biomolecules.
Describe the components of DNA and RNA.
State the main role of ATP in cells.

3. Carbon
Carbon forms a very large number of organic compounds because it can form strong bonds with itself and with other elements.
Carbon in nature is found in three forms called allotropes:
diamond
graphite
fullerenes
A whole type of Chemistry, organic chemistry, is about carbon and its compounds.
Carbon makes many types of compounds.
10 million known carbon compounds.
Some allotropes of carbon: a) diamond; b) graphite; c) lonsdaleite; d-f) fullerenes; g) amorphous carbon; h) carbon nanotube.

5. Carbon Compounds
Carbon Compounds – organic compounds contain carbon atoms that are covalently bonded to other elements – typically hydrogen and oxygen.
Four principal classes of organic compounds found in living things:
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Nucleic Acids

6. Carbohydrates – organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen
Carbohydrates – organic compounds made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. (1:2:1 ratio)
Key source of energy.
Found in most foods, especially fruits, vegetables, and grains.

7. Carbohydrates Cont..
Monosaccharides – building blocks of carbohydrates.
Glucose, C6H12O6 – Major source of energy.
Fructose
Disaccharides – double sugars formed when two monosaccharides are joined.
Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose (table sugar)

8. Carbohydrates Cont..
Polysaccharides – a macromolecule made from chains of three or more monosacchrides. Function as storehouses of energy in organisms.
Starch made by plants.
Cellulose provides structural support for plants. Cannot be digested by humans.
Glycogen made by animals.
Chitin made by fungi (i.e. Mushrooms).

9. Lipids
Lipids – Nonpolar molecules that are not soluble or mostly insoluble in water. Fats, phospholipids, steroids, and waxes.

10. Proteins
Proteins – usually a large molecule formed by linked smaller molecules called amino acids.

11. Amino Acids Amino Acids – the building blocks of proteins.
Twenty different amino acids (Polar or Nonpolar; Electrically Charged and Not Charged).

12. Nucleic Acids
Nucleic Acids – long chain of smaller molecules called nucleotides.
Nucleotides – has three parts:
Pentose Sugar
Nitrogen Base
Phosphate group
Nitrogen Bases:
Adenine
Thymine
Guanine
Cytosine
Uracil (Replaces Thymine in RNA)

13. Nucleic Acids Cont… Two types:
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) – consist of two strands of nucleotides that spiral around each other like a spiral staircase (double helix). Stores heredity information.
RNA (Ribonucleic acid) – single strand of nucleotides or of based-paired nucleotides. Aids in the building of proteins.

14. ATP
ATP – (Adenosine triphosphate) – a single nucleotide with two extra energy-storing phosphate groups.