2. Chemical messengers between cells
What are proteins???
Hair
Fur
Muscles
Chemical messengers between cells
Most diverse functions of any of the macromolecules we have discussed!!!

3. PROTEINS
PROTEIN: a POLYMER constructed from a set of just 20 kinds of monomers called AMINO ACIDS.
AMINO ACID: consists of a CENTRAL CARBON ATOM bonded to FOUR PARTNERS. THREE of these partners ARE always THE SAME.
The side group or FOURTH PARTNER is different. The DIFFERENT SIDE GROUPS are responsible for the DIFFERENT CHEMICAL PROPERTIES of each amino acid.

4. PROTEIN SHAPE
POLYPEPTIDE: amino acids linked together in a chain (most are about 100 AA in length)
PROTEINS are ONE OR MORE POLYPEPTIDE CHAINS linked together.

5. (Ball of yarn vs. a sweater, same material different functions)
Proteins must be PRECISELY TWISTED, FOLDED, and COILED into a UNIQUE SHAPE in order to work.
(Ball of yarn vs. a sweater, same material different functions)
DENATURATION: change in temperature, pH, or some other quality of the environment that CAUSES A PROTEIN TO UNRAVEL and LOSE ITS NORMAL SHAPE.
EXAMPLE
Cooking an egg: the egg white changes from a clear liquid to a white solid during cooking because heat denatures the egg’s proteins.

6. PROTEIN FUNCTIONS PROTEIN FUNCTIONS Used in BODY STRUCTURES
Examples: hair, fingernails, muscle fibers
Responsible for TRANSPORT
Example: Hemoglobin, a protein, transports O2 in the blood
FIGHT DISEASE
Example: Antibodies are proteins that attach to foreign molecules to provoke immune response
CHEMICAL MESSENGERS
Example: Insulin, a hormone, regulates the level of glucose in your blood
ENZYMES control reaction rates

8. NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUCLEIC ACID: large nitrogen-containing polymers found mainly in the nuclei of cells.
DEOXYRIBONUCLEIC ACID (DNA): POLYMER built from monomers called NUCLEOTIDES and contains the sugar deoxyribose. (There are only four nucleotides that make up DNA: A, T, C, and G.)
Stores HEREDITARY INFORMATION
CONTROLS ACTIVITIES of cells
RIBONUCLEIC ACID (RNA): POLYMER built from monomers called NUCLEOTIDES and contains the sugar ribose.
Works with DNA to BUILD PROTEINS
NUCLEOTIDE