1. THE MOLECULES
OF LIFE:
4. Nucleic Acids
1. Carbohydrates
3. Lipids
2. Proteins

2. Organic Chemistry
Organic compound = compound that contains carbon

4. What is so special about carbon???
4 valence electrons . . .
So it can have 4 covalent bonds

6. Terms
Macromolecules: The 4 molecules of life are called macromolecules (largest)
Monomer = building blocks- 1 unit (smallest)
Polymer = compound made up of smaller monomers- more than 1 unit. (middle)

7. Functional groups They are the non-hydrocarbon part of the molecule
They are clusters of atoms that influence the properties of the molecules they compose
Hydroxyl Group
-OH
Carboxyl Group
-COOH
Carbonyl Group
-CO
Amino Group
-NH2

9. 1. Carbohydrates! Contain: C, H, and O Function: Functional groups:
Source of Energy
Functional groups:
-OH (hydroxyl)
-CO (carbonyl)

10. 1. Carbohydrates! (continued)
Monomer
= Monosaccharide
(simple sugar)
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Polymer
= Disaccharides and polysaccharides

11. Monomer: *Monosaccharide
simple sugars
contain C, H, & O in a 1:2:1 ratio
Example: 1 2 1
C6H12O6
3 Most Common
Glucose
Fructose
Galactose
= fuel for cells
= sweetest
= milk sugar

13. Isomer= compounds with the SAME
chemical formula, but different structural formulas
Example:
glucose, fructose, and galactose are
all isomers of each other . . .
C6H12O6

14. Polymer: *Disaccharide
Is a double sugar formed when 2 monosaccharides combine in a dehydration synthesis rxn
3 Types
Maltose
Sucrose
Lactose
= glucose + glucose
= glucose + fructose
= glucose + galactose

15. = Reaction that links smaller molecules together to make a
Condensation reaction
–or–
Dehydration synthesis
= Reaction that
links smaller
molecules together
to make a
larger molecule by
removing water

16. = Reaction that breaks apart larger molecules by adding water
Hydrolysis
= Reaction that
breaks apart
larger molecules
by adding
water
(Essential Process
for digestion)
Fructose

17. Polymer: *Polysaccharide
Is a complex molecule made of 3 or more monosaccharides
3 Types
starch
glycogen
cellulose
= sugar storage in plants
= sugar storage in animals
(in muscles)
= structural component to plant cells (cell wall)
Fiber!!

19. 2. Proteins Contain: C, H, O, and N Function:
Structural component to living things (helps build muscle mass)
Control cell processes and
reactions (enzymes)

20. 2. Proteins (continued) Monomer Polymer = amino acid = protein
(folded polypeptide chain)

21. Monomer: **amino acids
Contains 2 functional groups
-NH2 (amino group) and -COOH (carboxyl group)
General aa structure
R-group = different for each type of amino acid
There are 20 different amino acids

23. 20 different amino acids:
“Protein alphabet”

24. Polymer: Protein
Amino acids join by a dehydration synthesis rxn to form dipeptides and polypeptides

25. Steps to go from aa to protein
Primary Structure
1. Form a chain of aa
Secondary Structure
2. Twist or fold the chain of aa
(alpha helix or pleated sheet)
Tertiary structure
3. Fold the chain onto itself (globular subunit)
Quaternary Structure
4. Bring 2 to 4 aa subunits
together

26. Correct folding is critical.
If conditions are not right (temp, pH), this process will not take place or can be reversed (denaturation) and proteins cannot funciton!

27. Special note on Enzymes
Enzymes are made of proteins.
They help speed up reactions and are UNCHANGED by the reaction.
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28. 3. LIPIDs! Contain: C, H, and O Function: -Membranes of cells
- Stored Energy

29. 3. Lipids (continued) Lipids are not typical monomers and polymers
Monomer- Fatty Acid Chain
- Carboxyl Group
- HydroCarbon Chain

30. Fatty Acids
=long hydrocarbon chain
with carboxyl
group attached

31. Fatty Acids --Saturated C are full of H (no double bonds)
--Unsaturated C are NOT full of H
(double bonds)

32. 3. Lipids(continued) Glycerol and fatty acid Triglyceride
Most contain (“monomer”):
Glycerol and
fatty acid
Triglyceride

34. Types of Lipids (“polymers”):
1. Triglyceride
STRUCTURE
3 fatty acids + 1 glycerol
Function
Storage of energy

35. Types of Lipids (“polymers”):
2. Phospholipid
STRUCTURE
2 fatty acids, 1 phosphate group, 1 glycerol
Function
Component of cell membranes
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36. Types of Lipids (“polymers”):
3. Steroids
STRUCTURE
4 fused rings with functional group attached
Function
1. Component of cell membranes (cholesterol)
2. Starting material for sex hormones

37. Homework: Go to online textbook
Homework: Go to online textbook. Select “you decide” from left side of page. Select unit 1: You Decide: Low-fat or Low-carb Diets — Which is Healthier?
Work through all of the steps of the activity. On step 7, the last step, you will be asked to type in a response to the question. After typing your response, copy and paste it into a Word document and print it out to turn in.

38. 4. Nucleic Acids Contain: C, H, O, N, P Function: Functional groups:
Store and transmit info to carry out cell processes and make protein
Transmit genetic info from one generation to the next
Functional groups:
None that we discussed

39. 4. Nucleic Acids (continued)
Monomer
= nucleotide
Sugar
Phosphate
Nitrogen base
Polymer
= Nucleic acid
2 types:
DNA
RNA
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