The building blocks of life Proteins lipids carbohydrates

The building blocks of life: Proteins, lipids, carbohydrates & nucleic acids

What Is A Biomolecule? A very large molecule, such as a polymer or protein, consisting of many smaller structural units linked together. Also called supermolecule.

Biological Macromolecule All biomolecules are made up of a small number of elements: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Sulfur

NOW …

The Facts … Three of the 4 types of biomolecules can be found on food nutrition labels…

Look at the label to the right. 3 of the 4 biomolecules can be found in foods. 1. Carbohydrates 2. Fats (Lipids) 3. Proteins How many of each are found in this product?

And … the Fourth Nucleic Acids, including… • DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid • RNA: Ribonucleic Acid

When studying these biochemical molecules, we are interested in finding out…. . What they do for living things. How they may help the body gain energy to sustain life.

Carbohydrates… Just like your car needs fuel to make it run, your body needs fuel to make it go. Of course, your body doesn't run on gasoline - it runs on carbohydrates. Carbohydrates, are by far your body's favorite source of energy.

Carbohydrates… ü They are the main source for the body to gain energy. They are our fuel! ü They make up the cell wall in plants which allow them to grow tall, without this carbohydrate, a plant would be a mushy mess! This type of carbohydrate is called cellulose. Carbs = Energy & Cell Walls

Carbohydrates… • In plant foods: in the cell walls of plants, in fruits, vegetables, peas, beans, sugar (comes from a plant) and flour (another plant). Including, pasta, potatoes, bread, candy, cookies. • In animal products: in milk.

Carbohydrates… After you enjoy a meal, the carbohydrates from the foods you consumed are broken down into smaller units of sugar. These small units get absorbed out of your digestive tract and into your bloodstream. This blood sugar, or blood glucose, is transported through your bloodstream to supply energy to your muscles and other tissues. This is an important process; in fact, supplying energy to the body is the main role. But another important function of carbs is supplying energy to the brain.

Carbohydrates… There are two types of carbohydrates: Simple Complex

Carbohydrates… Simple sugars are carbohydrates made up of 1 or 2 monomers. They also taste sweet.

Carbohydrates… Complex carbohydrates are polymers made up of many monomers. Most also taste starchy.

Carbohydrates… Fiber Whole grains Starches Pasta Breads Vegetables

Carbohydrates… Carbohydrates are chains (polymers) made of monomers. The most common monomer of carbohydrates is… GLUCOSE

Lipids… ONE … Acting as an energy source: although the body uses carbohydrates as its primary form of energy, it can turn to lipids when it needs a reserve. Most people weighing 154 pounds have enough lipids to carry them through 24 to 30 days without food.

Lipids… TWO … Protecting and structuring organs: various organs are surrounded by fat pads that protect them and give them structure. For example, the fat keep the kidneys in place and prevent bends in the ureters.

Lipids… THREE … Insulation: layers of fat under the skin insulate the body when temperatures drop.

Lipids… FOUR … Generating heat: when skin temperatures drop too far, layers of fat beneath the skin metabolize to raise them.

Lipids… FIVE … o Give cell membranes structure: most cell membranes feature lipid bilayers. o This layer plays a role in signaling by allowing signaling proteins to lock into it. o In addition, the lipid component allows the cell membrane to remain hydrophobic, which prevents too many molecules from moving through.

Lipids… Waterproofing • Fruits produce a waxy coating to keep from drying out. • The cells in a tulip make a wax which helps coat the leaves. • Ear wax traps dust, sand, and other foreign particles from going deeper into the ear and causing damage. • Beeswax- a structural material to hold honey in the hive.

Lipids… Steroids • • There are many different types of steroids. They are all lipids. Their functions vary. Some common steroids are: Sex steroids, like estrogen and testosterone Anabolic steroids, increase muscle Cholesterol • Natural steroids in our body increase muscle growth and bone development and are good. • Synthetic steroids are dangerous, unhealthy, and illegal.

Lipids… • In plants: in the seeds. • In animals: in adipose tissue, and connective tissue. • Lipids make up the cell membrane of all cells.

Lipids…

Lipids… Oils Butter Margarine And foods high in these.

Lipids… Lipids are chains (polymers) made of monomers. The most common monomer of lipids is… TRIGLYCERIDE

Proteins… ü ü They are the major structural molecules in living things for growth and repair : muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, hair, skin, nails… In fact all cell membranes have protein in them. They make up antibodies in the immune system. They make up enzymes for helping chemical reactions. They makeup non-steroid hormones THINK: Proteins=structural molecules, membranes, enzymes, antibodies, non-steroid hormones.

Proteins… The cell membrane surrounds everything in a cell so it doesn’t leak out. It is kind of like the balloon in a water balloon. The cell membrane is made mostly of protein AND lipids.

Proteins… Antibodies are part of the immune system. When something enters the body that isn’t supposed to be there, like certain bacteria, antibodies find the invader and stick themselves onto it. When a white blood cell finds the invader covered with antibodies, it knows it doesn’t belong there and kills it.

Proteins… Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. If you didn’t have enzymes in your stomach to speed up digestion, the food would rot in your stomach because it would take so long!

Proteins… Hormones are chemicals made in glands that are in one place in the body and then put into the blood to be used in another.

Proteins… Thyroid hormone regulates how fast your body uses energy. If you have an over active thyroid, you use energy quickly and tend to be very thin and have a hard time putting on weight. If you have an under active thyroid gland, you use energy very slowly and tend to carry more body fat and have a difficult time losing it. Don’t be quick to think you have a thyroid problem if you are overweight, chances are it’s actually your eating and exercise habits!

Proteins… • In plant foods: in the cell membranes • In animal products: in the cell membranes especially in the muscles of living things like cows, chicken, fish.

Proteins… Aside from the protein found in animal sources… protein can also be found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and nuts. • It just does not have as many amino acids.

Proteins… Proteins are made of long chains (polymers) made of monomers. All proteins are made of the monomer… AMINO ACID

Proteins… The shapes of proteins are like a balled up piece of string.

Proteins… An amino acid

Proteins… Proteins are polymers of amino acid monomers. Twenty different amino acids are used to build proteins in organisms.

Amino Acids There are 20 different amino acids. They are assembled via instructions encoded in our DNA and can form chains thousands of amino acids long. The structure of every amino acid varies and those differences contribute to the shape of the overall protein.

Nucleic Acids… Store and transmit genetic information in a cell for proteins to be made (protein synthesis) Monomers = nucleotides 5 carbon sugar Phosphate group Nitrogenous base

Nucleic Acids The nucleic acids in food are not considered a substance that the body uses to gain energy.

Energy that is gained by consuming food is called a …

Energy that we gain by the consumption of food is measured in Calories. If you drink a glass of skim milk, you will get a gain of 90 Calories of energy for your body.

Energy Gained from Carbohydrates Eating 1 gram of carbohydrate provides your body with 4 calories.

Energy Gained from Proteins

Energy Gained from Lipids Eating 1 gram of fat provides your body with 9 calories. Notice if you eat 1 gram of fat, you are gaining more than twice the amount of calories than from a gram of carbohydrate or protein.

ENERGY Three of the BIG 4 provide us with energy through the food we eat: Macromolecules Calories Provided Carbohydrates 4 Proteins 4 Lipids 9 Nucleic Acids 0

Now you try… If you eat a sandwich with 46 grams of carbs; 24 grams of protein and 10 grams of fat, how much energy will you gain?