Biochemistry and Chemistry Baisden Carbon Bonding Carbon can

Biochemistry and Chemistry Baisden

Carbon Bonding �Carbon ◦ ◦ can form: Long carbon to carbon chains Branches Rings Single or multiple bonds

Six most common elements in organic molecules �Carbon (C) �Hydrogen (H) �Nitrogen (N) �Oxygen (O) �Phosphorous (P) �Sulfur (S)

Carbohydrates �Structure: C, H, O are in a ratio of 1: 2: 1 �Examples: ◦ monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides (sugars) ◦ C 6 H 12 O 6 ◦ C 12 H 24 O 12 �Function: ◦ Short term energy supply ◦ Structure and support (form shells and cell walls) ◦ Cell recognition

Lipids �Structure: Composed of chains of carbon and hydrogens �Example: ◦ ◦ Fats Steroids Hormones Waxes �Function: ◦ Long term energy storage – store more energy in fewer molecules than carbohydrates can ◦ Water barrier: lipids cannot dissolve in water, therefore lipids prevent movement of water.

Proteins �Structure: amino acids linked into chains ◦ NH 2 on one end ◦ COOH on the other end �Function: ◦ Structure and support for the cell ◦ Movement – interactions between proteins in cells produce movement in many organisms ◦ Communication – proteins can carry signals from one part of an organism to another ◦ Chemical reactions – proteins make many chemical reactions in living things possible.

Nucleic Acid �Structure: ◦ Nucleotide (sugar, base, and a phosphate group) �Examples ◦ DNA or RNA �Function: ◦ Heredity – DNA stores and transmits genetic information between organisms ◦ Energy Transfer – the main molecule that cells use to transfer energy is ATP which consists of a single nucleotide connected to two smaller phosphate groups.

Dehydration (synthesis) �Links smaller subunits into larger units by removing water and forming covalent bonds

Hydrolysis �A chemical reaction in which a compound reacts with water. �This type of reaction is used to break down larger organic molecules into smaller subunits.

Dehydration and Hydrolysis �Dehydration and Hydrolysis are essentially the reverse of each other

The role of enzymes and other proteins in biochemical functions �Chemical reactions can occur only if two conditions are met: ◦ Reactions must have enough energy for a reaction to occur (activation energy) ◦ Reactants must line up correctly

Role of enzymes continued �An enzyme is a bio-molecule that makes a chemical reaction happen more quickly by: ◦ Reducing the amount of activation energy required for the reaction to happen ◦ Binding reactants and forcing them to align correctly

How an enzyme works �A specific substrate binds an enzyme to the active site �The enzyme shape changes and the activation energy required is reduced �After the reaction occurs the new product moves away from the enzyme

Energy and Bonds �Energy is involved in the formation of chemical bonds �Energy is stored in bonds of chemicals when they are broke it releases energy. �An example of high energy bonds are the phosphate bonds in ATP