1. Proteins & Nucleic Acids

2. Protein Basics Contain C, H, O and N (the “N” is super important!)
Make up structural parts & functions
Ex. Ligaments, connective tissues, hair, muscle & bone
Enzymes (help catalyze reactions in your body)
Hormones (along with lipids)

3. Constructing a Protein
Smallest unit = AMINO ACID (this is a monomer)
There are 20 different kinds of amino acids!
Amino Acid Components:
An amine group (NH2)
An organic acid group (COOH)
An “R” group (the rest of the amino acid)

4. Some Amino Acid Examples…
Where is the??…
Amine group (NH2)
Organic acid group (COOH)
“R” group (the rest of the amino acid)

5. Dehydration Synthesis
You need amino acids joined together with PEPTIDE BONDS to form a protein
During dehydration Synthesis, water is removed & peptide bonds form between amino acids

6. Levels of Protein Structure
Primary structure = getting the right order of amino acids (10)
Secondary structure = becomes a spiral (20)
* Hydrogen bonds hold the spiral shape!
Tertiary structure = 3D spiral (30)
* Ionic bonds hold the 3D shape!

7. Nucleic Acids Types: - DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
- RNA (ribonucleic acid)
- ATP and ADP (adenosine triphosphate)
Building block of all nucleic acids = nucleotides (phosphate + sugar + base)
4 possible types of base
(in DNA)
Adenine Guanine
Cytosine Thymine

8. DNA DNA structure: double stranded, spiral shape
General nucleic acid strand has sugar-phosphate backbone + nitrogenous bases projecting to the side

9. RNA RNA Structure: - single strand - shorter than DNA
- 3 kinds: mRNA (messenger)
tRNA (transfer)
rRNA (ribosomal)
- 4 kinds of nitrogenous bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil instead of thymine!)

10. A closer look at RNA…

11. ATP ATP: - excellent place to store ENERGY
- ATP is “energy currency” of cells
- produced from energy released by “burning” food (at the mitochondria)
- used for large number of energy demanding reactions
Next slide is… Converting ATP  ADP 