Biochemistry Vocabulary Structure what something looks like Function

Biochemistry

Vocabulary: Structure – what something looks like Function – a job Mono- prefix meaning “one” Poly – prefix meaning “many” -ose and – saccharide are suffixes meaning “sugar”

What is a molecule? A molecule is a very small piece of something. It is made up of different kinds of atoms. Example – a Water molecule (H 2 O) is made of 2 atoms of hydrogen and 1 atom of oxygen. A water molecule looks like this: The atoms in molecules are held together by forces called bonds.

Biomolecules • Biomolecules are molecules that are made and used by living things. • A polymer is a large molecule that is made up of smaller molecules called monomers. • Most biomolecules are polymers. • Biomolecules are organic. This means they contain a chain of carbon atoms. All Biomolecules contain carbon, hydrogen and oxygen

There are 4 kinds of biomolecules: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleic Acids.

1. Carbohydrates Made of: CHO (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) Monomer: monosaccharides such as glucose and sucrose Looks like: Polymer: polysaccharides such as starch and glycogen Looks like:

Functions: • Make cell walls strong. • Provide quick energy for animals (sugar makes you hyper)

Found in: • Fruits (fructose is fruit sugar) • Breads and pasta (in the form of starches) • Plant cells (lignin and cellulose make plant cells strong, chitin makes the walls of mushrooms strong)

2. Lipids Made of: CHO (Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen) Lipids are NOT polymers. They are made of glycerol and fatty acids.

Looks like: Glycerol 3 Fatty Acids

Functions of the 3 types of lipids: • Fats and oils – store long term energy Found in animal fats, vegetable oil, petroleum. • Phospholipids – makes coverings (membranes) water resistant Found in cell membranes • Steroids and Hormones – produce body changes such as puberty Found in cholesterol, testosterone, estrogen

3. Proteins Made of: CHON - Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, and Nitrogen

Monomer - Amino Acid • 20 different types • Different side chains (R-groups) • Ex–tryptophan

Polymer – peptides • Once the polypeptide is made it twists and folds into a protein. • Shape dictates what a protein does. • Held together by hydrogen bonds called peptide bonds.

Looks like: Amino Acid Protein

Functions: Control chemical reaction rates. Proteins that control reactions are called enzymes • Bone and muscle movement -Collagen • Transport substances – hemoglobin • Fight disease – antibodies

4. Nucleic Acids Made of: CHONP - Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Phosphorous

Look like: Monomers - Nucleotides Polymers - DNA and RNA

Function: Transmits genetic information from parents to offspring